Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has revealed that he nearly assaulted former President Olusegun Obasanjo over remarks the former leader made during his 65th birthday celebration.
Speaking about the incident, Fayose said Obasanjo’s comments were uncomplimentary and provoked him deeply, but he restrained himself out of respect for the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, who was present at the event.
“I was enraged. I felt like taking the mic from Obasanjo’s hand and hitting it on his head,” Fayose said. “But to show maturity—not by age, but by self-respect and because of the vice-president’s presence—I kept my cool. How do you say such things to a man on his 65th birthday?”
Fayose questioned why Obasanjo attended the event if he intended to embarrass him.
“If I knew this was how it would end, what do I need Obasanjo for? Am I contesting for election? Do I need his validation? No,” he said.
He added that any past differences between them should have been set aside, noting that he owed the former president no apology.
“I never called to apologise to Baba. I did not offend him. He was the one who removed me from office. If anybody should apologise, it is he,” he stated.
Fayose also disclosed that he had extended goodwill to Obasanjo during the event.
“We took pictures together in good faith. I even changed $20,000 and gave it to him. How can you accept somebody’s money and come and be spitting on that person?” he said.
He further narrated that Obasanjo insisted on speaking last, which made him uneasy. According to him, the former president then directed the moderator to call Vice President Shettima before him and requested that Fayose and his wife stand beside him throughout a speech that lasted one hour and fourteen minutes.
