I felt like hitting Obasanjo with microphone at my birthday party, says Fayose

Ayo Fayose, ex-governor of Ekiti, says he was so provoked by Olusegun Obasanjo’s remarks at his 65th birthday celebration that he momentarily felt like seizing the microphone from the ex-president and striking him with it.

Fayose spoke in a fresh interview where he narrated the sequence of events leading to his recent birthday celebration.

At the ceremony in Lagos, Obasanjo had reflected on his long-running feud with Fayose, describing the former governor as “not the best” of his political protégés — while acknowledging his political accomplishments.

Fayose said two weeks before the event, he decided to mend fences with several people he had fallen out with politically.

“Whatever differences we have had in the past, let’s put it behind. If I have offended you, if you have offended me, let us put it behind,” he said.

He explained that he reached out to Obasanjo through a mutual friend, Osita, who provided the former president’s phone number.

Fayose, however, insisted that his call to Obasanjo was not an apology.

“I never called to go and apologise to Baba. I did not offend him. He was the one that removed me from office. If anybody should apologise, it is him,” he said.

He said Obasanjo welcomed him to his home days before the celebration and even assured him that he would attend the event despite another engagement in Rwanda.

He added that at Obasanjo’s request, he arranged money for the former president’s travel logistics.

“We took pictures together. All in good faith,” he said.

“I changed $20,000 and gave it to him. How can you accept somebody’s money and come and be spiting that person?”

According to Fayose, the first sign of trouble came when Obasanjo insisted on speaking last at the event as opposed to the vice-president.

“Baba said he would be the one to speak last. I became suspicious,” he said.

He said Obasanjo later instructed the moderator to call the vice-president before him, only to demand that Fayose and his wife stand beside him as he gave a speech lasting “one hour, 14 minutes”.

Fayose described the speech as laced with veiled attacks.

“How do you say such things to a man on his 65th birthday?” he asked.

Fayose said it was at this point that his anger peaked.

“I was enraged. I felt like taking the mic from Obasanjo’s hand and hitting it on his head. This is being sincere,” he narrated

“But to show maturity, not by age, and the love I have for myself and the presence of the vice-president, I just kept my cool.”

Fayose said his attempt to reconcile with the former president was made “in good conscience”, but that Obasanjo’s behaviour proved he was not interested in peace.

“If I knew this was how it would end, what do I need Obasanjo for? Am I contesting election? Do I need his validation? No,” he said.(The Cable)