Former President Olusegun Obasanjo disclosed on Monday the contents of an “insulting and abusive” thank-you text message he received from former Ekiti Gov. Ayodele Fayose.
The message followed Obasanjo’s attendance at Fayose’s 65th birthday celebration in Lagos last week.
Obasanjo’s Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, provided the SMS—described as a thank-you note—to journalists in Abeokuta.
In the message, Fayose acknowledged Obasanjo’s presence but sharply criticized the 89-year-old former president’s “irresponsible comments” made during the event.
Fayose asserted that he refrained from an immediate response to demonstrate “the difference between a sane man and a mad man.”
He concluded by demanding that Obasanjo immediately return the money he had sent to cover his attendance.
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.”
In response to the text, Obasanjo was quoted as saying, “Ayo, thanks for your ‘Thank You’ message, which undisguisedly revealed who and what you are, unchanged and unchangeable.”
He confirmed the return of the facilitation funds, stating, “Your money has been sent back through Foluso Adeagbo… unopened by me.”
These remarks came after Obasanjo’s speech at the birthday celebration, where he had recounted Fayose’s persistent history of abuse and lack of remorse.
Obasanjo noted that despite seeking forgiveness on multiple occasions, Fayose continued his insults, displaying arrogance.
He also mentioned that Fayose did not initially extend an invitation, relying first on former Minister Osita Chidoka as an intermediary before making a personal visit.
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 further used the platform to offer a critical retrospective on Fayose’s governorship, specifically recalling advising him against the government’s poultry investment, which Obasanjo deemed “largely fraudulent” and destined to fail.
According to a trending video of the event, the former president delivered a strong moral message, urging Fayose to seek genuine repentance and forgiveness from those he had wronged.
Obasanjo stressed that Fayose must prioritize integrity and humility going forward.
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