‘You Belong in the Zoo’: Fayose Renews Rift with Obasanjo 48 Hours After Reconciliation

• Barely two days after former President Olusegun Obasanjo publicly forgave Ayodele Fayose at his 65th birthday celebration.

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has reignited his long-standing feud with former President Olusegun Obasanjo—barely 48 hours after both men appeared to reconcile publicly.

The pair seemed to have ended their years-long political rift on Saturday during Fayose’s 65th birthday party in Lagos, where Obasanjo attended and openly forgave him. At the event, Obasanjo delivered sharp remarks about Fayose’s past criticisms but said he had let go of the past.

Obasanjo narrated how Fayose had sent several intermediaries—including former Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka—to seek reconciliation, saying he eventually agreed to attend after receiving repeated appeals.

“You are not the best of my political children, but you have made achievements that must not be ignored,” Obasanjo said during the ceremony, recounting tense moments leading to the visit. He also recalled warning Fayose and his wife during the reconciliation process, saying they had not acted like Omoluabi (people of noble character). Fayose appeared calm and did not respond publicly at the event.

But the peace was short-lived.

According to a statement from Obasanjo’s media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, Fayose sent a strongly worded message to the former president on Monday, expressing deep anger over the comments made at the party.

DON’T MISS: ‘We Removed the Cancer Crippling the Party’ — PDP Speaks on Wike’s Expulsion

Part of Fayose’s message read:
“Dear Baba Obasanjo, I appreciate your coming to my birthday party, except for your very irresponsible comments at your age. You went so low, but I’m 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 at the event so the world would know the difference between a sane and a mad man—that you are. It is obvious you have also lost your sanity, or should I say it is the heightened stage of dementia. Not to worry, Baba, I shall set the records straight in due course.”

Background of Their Long Feud

Fayose and Obasanjo have been at odds for nearly two decades. Their rift dates back to 2006, when Fayose and his then deputy, Abiodun Olujimi, were impeached by the Ekiti State House of Assembly—a move Fayose has long accused Obasanjo of orchestrating.

Following the impeachment, Obasanjo declared a state of emergency in Ekiti State, suspended the assembly, and appointed Tunji Olurin as the sole administrator until 2007.

Years later, in 2015, the Supreme Court ruled Fayose’s impeachment illegal, but his tenure had already elapsed. Fayose returned to office only through a fresh election in 2014.

Throughout the years, Fayose repeatedly criticised Obasanjo, at one point demanding a refund of the ₦10 million he said Obasanjo compelled PDP governors to donate to his presidential library project in 2005.

The brief reconciliation attempt over the weekend now appears to have collapsed under fresh hostilities.