Former President Olusegun Obasanjo disclosed on Monday the nasty and abusive “Thank You” text message he received from former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose after attending Fayose’s 65th birthday in Lagos last week.
Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo’s Special Assistant on Media, made the SMS available to journalists in Abeokuta, describing it as a “thank you” note.
In the statement, Fayose expressed gratitude for Obasanjo’s presence but condemned the 89-year-old former president’s “irresponsible comments” during the birthday celebration.
The former governor stated that he chose not to respond on the occasion in order to demonstrate to “the whole world the difference between a sane man and a madman.”
Fayose further requested that Obasanjo swiftly refund the money he had paid to facilitate his attendance at the birthday celebration.
The “Thank You” note read in part, “Dear Baba Obasanjo, I trust this meets you well. Your coming to my birthday party—I appreciate it—except for your very irresponsible comments at your age. You went so low, but I am not surprised because someone once said you are supposed to be kept away in the zoo. Sincerely, that’s where you belong.
“I kept quiet or did not reply to you at the function so that the world would know the difference between a sane and a mad man. It is also obvious that you have lost your sanity—or should I say, this is the heightened stage of dementia.
“Not to worry, Baba. I shall set the records straight in due course. Lastly, I shall appreciate it if you return my money since you publicly admitted you received it, but Dangote brought it back. Your leopard will never change its skin.”
Responding to Fayose, Obasanjo was quoted as saying, “Ayo, thanks for your ‘Thank You’ message, which undisguisedly revealed who and what you are, unchanged and unchangeable. Your money has been sent back through Foluso Adeagbo, who brought it, in the same bag as he delivered it, unopened by me.”
While speaking as the special guest of honor at the birthday, Obasanjo described how Fayose had previously abused him without remorse.
He explained that, despite his repeated requests for forgiveness, Fayose continued to insult him and demonstrate arrogance.
Obasanjo also stated that Fayose did not initially invite him to the birthday party, instead sending former Minister Osita Chidoka as a mediator before coming personally.
He said, “Some people called me and said, ‘We heard that you are going to attend Fayose’s 65th birthday. Have you forgotten how he abused you?’ But I said they should not worry. Irrespective of his character, he remains one of my children.
“But you are not among the best of my political children. Even to get me to attend this occasion, you could not approach me directly. You sent Osita Chidoka to sound me out. You later phoned me, and I said you could come see me at any time.
“Even then, you could not come immediately. You sent Foluso ahead to gauge my feelings, and you arrived about an hour later. When you came, you called your wife, and while on the phone, I said that both of you have not conducted yourselves well—Mo ni eyin mejeji kii somoluwabi [both of you are not Omoluwabi]. Your wife asked for forgiveness, and I said both of you are forgiven.
“However, I do not want the lesson of what happened between you and me in the past to be lost. You must learn from this.”
Obasanjo also recalled warning Fayose during his stint as governor not to engage in poultry on behalf of the government, claiming the initiative was primarily bogus and finally failed.
According to a viral online video of the event, the former president exhorted Fayose to seek genuine repentance and forgiveness from those he had offended, as well as to prioritize integrity and humility for the rest of his life.
