Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, have renewed their years-long hostility simply days after they appeared to have settled their variations and given peace an opportunity.
The collapse of their relationship surfaced in a blistering “thank-you” message Mr Fayose despatched to Mr Obasanjo for attending his sixty fifth birthday celebration.
However removed from being complimentary, the message launched an assault on Mr Obasanjo, describing him as somebody that needs to be stored away within the zoo.
The confrontation marks a brand new chapter within the long-running frosty relationship between the 2 males, relationship again to Mr Fayose’s 2006 removing as Ekiti State governor. Since then, Mr Fayose ha his repeated public criticisms of the previous president.
In an announcement launched Monday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Kehinde Akinyemi, Particular Assistant on Media to Mr Obasanjo, stated the previous president acquired an SMS from Mr Fayose which he described as a “thank-you letter.”
The tone of the message, nevertheless, was removed from appreciative. The assertion captured each Mr Fayose’s textual content message and Mr Obasanjo’s reply. The messages made public by Mr Obasanjo’s camp had been believed to be meant to be personal messages between the 2 warring politicians.
Within the textual content, Mr Fayose thanked Mr Obasanjo for attending his birthday occasion however accused him of creating “very irresponsible feedback” through the gathering.
“Expensive Baba Obasanjo, I belief this meets you effectively. Your coming to my birthday celebration, I admire besides on your very irresponsible feedback at your age. You went so low however I’m not shocked as a result of somebody as soon as stated you’re speculated to be stored away within the zoo. Sincerely that’s the place you belong.” he wrote.
The previous governor escalated the insults, calling Mr Obasanjo “a mad man” and claiming the ex-president was in a “heightened stage of dementia”:
“I stored quiet or didn’t reply you on the operate in order that the world will know the distinction between a sane and a mad man that you’re. Additionally it is apparent that you’ve got additionally misplaced your sanity OR ought to I say is the heightened stage of dementia. To not fear Baba., I shall set the data straight sooner or later of time,” he stated
He additional demanded that Mr Obasanjo return cash he gave him to cowl his flight from Rwanda to attend his birthday celebration held on Saturday.
“Lastly I shall admire for those who return my cash because you publicly admitted you acquired however Dangote introduced u again,” he added.
Responding by way of his media aide, Mr Obasanjo thanked Mr Fayose for the message, saying it “undisguisedly revealed who and what you’re, unchanged and unchangeable.”
On the cash, Mr Obasanjo stated it had been returned.
““Your cash has been despatched again by way of Foluso Adeagbo who introduced it and in the identical bag as he introduced it unopened by me,” he wrote.
A number of calls to Mr Fayose on Monday night weren’t answered.
What Obasanjo stated on the birthday occasion
Mr Obasanjo’s look on the birthday celebration and the remarks he made there fashioned the backdrop to Mr Fayose’s livid SMS.
On the occasion, the previous president combined reward with sharp rebuke.
“You aren’t the most effective of my political kids, you aren’t… However you have got made achievements that should not be ignored,” he stated.
He added that the invitation to the occasion was not prolonged straight by Mr Fayose however by way of former aviation minister Osita Chidoka.
“When Osita got here to me and stated, ‘Ayo,’ I requested, ‘Ayo who?’ He stated Ayo Fayose. I instructed him to inform him, the message has been delivered,” Mr Obasanjo stated.
The previous president additionally revealed that some associates had warned him to not attend due to Mr Fayose’s previous insults.
He stated, “Earlier than I began coming right here, some folks known as me… ‘Can’t you do not forget that he abused you?’ I stated, ‘Thanks for reminding me.’”
Regardless of the rocky relationship, Mr Obasanjo stated Mr Fayose had apologised to him up to now on multiple event.
He recalled what was suspected to be a foul play when he visited Ekiti State as president on invitation by then-Governor Fayose to inaugurate a poultry mission.
“And I turned to you and stated Ayo, ‘your chicks don’t poo?’ And I heard your brother, Oyinlola, saying to you quietly that ‘If he doesn’t know something , he is aware of poultry.’”
Sowore reacts
Human rights activist and Sahara Reporters writer Omoyele Sowore mocked the 2 politicians in an X put up, titled “Obasanjo versus Fayose: when two deputy devils jam one another.”
“The best way Fayose insulted Obasanjo telling him he ‘belongs to the zoo’ after Obasanjo made these disagreeable remarks at his birthday was one thing else totally,” he wrote.
Regardless of the plain mockery, it’s thought-about deeply improper for a youthful individual to talk harshly or insult an elder, no matter disagreements within the Yoruba tradition..
READ ALSO: UPDATED: Obasanjo speaks on frosty relationship with ex-governor Ayo Fayose
This is the reason the Fayose–Obasanjo alternate has stirred concern, as many see any perceived disrespect towards an elder statesman like Mr Obasanjo as working in opposition to long-standing norms of respect and restraint.
The previous president’s critics have additionally condemned his determination to selected Mr Fayose’s birthday platform to precise uncomplimentary remarks about him.
