‘You Belong In The Zoo…’ – Fayose Slams Obasanjo In ‘Thank You’ Message

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose have exchanged heated words after an abusive “Thank You” message sent by Fayose following Obasanjo’s attendance at his 65th birthday in Lagos.

The message, which Fayose described as a note of appreciation, was released to journalists in Abeokuta on Monday by Obasanjo’s Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi.

In the SMS, Fayose thanked Obasanjo for honouring his invitation but lambasted the 89-year-old former president for what he called “irresponsible comments” made during the celebration.

“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,” Fayose wrote.

He went further, saying he stayed silent at the event so “the whole world would know the difference between a sane and a mad man,” adding that Obasanjo was exhibiting “the heightened stage of dementia.”

He ended the message by demanding that Obasanjo return the money allegedly sent to facilitate his attendance at the party.

Responding to the message, Obasanjo dismissed Fayose’s insults and said he had already returned the money.

“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,” Obasanjo replied.

Speaking earlier at the birthday event where the tension began, Obasanjo criticised Fayose for repeatedly insulting him in the past while still seeking opportunities to reconcile without showing sincerity.

He noted that Fayose did not initially invite him directly but sent intermediaries.

“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,” Obasanjo stated.

“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,” he said.

Obasanjo recounted how Fayose and his wife sought forgiveness during a private meeting.

“When you came, you called your wife, and while on the phone, I said both of you have not conducted yourselves well — Mo ni eyin mejeji kii s’Omolúwàbí [both of you are not Omolúwàbí]. Your wife asked for forgiveness, and I said both of you are forgiven,” he said.

He added that Fayose must learn from past mistakes instead of repeating them.

Obasanjo also reminded the former governor of a failed poultry project he once advised him against.

He noted that the initiative, which Fayose executed while in office, was “largely fraudulent” and collapsed due to mismanagement.

In a circulating video from the event, Obasanjo urged Fayose to “seek genuine repentance and forgiveness” from those he had offended, stressing that integrity and humility should shape the remaining years of his political and private life.

The heated exchange has since dominated political discussions, with observers describing it as one of the most dramatic confrontations between two high-profile political figures in recent years.