Former Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose has said that he became very upset during his 65th birthday celebration after comments made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Fayose explained in a new interview that he had tried to make peace with several political figures before the event. He said he reached out to Obasanjo through a mutual friend who gave him the former president’s phone number. According to him, the call was not meant to be an apology.
He said Obasanjo later invited him to his home and promised to attend the celebration even though he had another engagement abroad. Fayose also said he arranged money for the former president’s travel needs, adding that they took photos together in good faith.
During the birthday event in Lagos, Obasanjo asked to speak last, which made Fayose suspicious. The former president then gave a long speech that Fayose described as full of indirect attacks. One of the comments was Obasanjo’s remark that Fayose was “not the best” of his political protégés.
Fayose said the speech upset him greatly. He explained that for a moment he felt like grabbing the microphone from Obasanjo out of anger, but he controlled himself because the vice president and other guests were present.
He added that his effort to make peace was sincere, but Obasanjo’s behaviour showed he was not interested in settling their past issues. Fayose ended by saying he did not need Obasanjo’s approval for anything and would not have reached out if he knew the event would turn out that way.