Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has disclosed that he gave former President Olusegun Obasanjo $20,000 ahead of his 65th birthday celebration in Lagos, yet the Ex President came to insult him

Fayose said the payment arose after Obasanjo welcomed him to his Abeokuta residence days before the celebration, assured him of his attendance despite another engagement in Rwanda, and made a request that prompted him to provide the money for travel arrangements.

According to Fayose, Obasanjo’s behaviour at the event left him embarrassed. He said the former president insisted on speaking last — even ahead of Vice President Kashim Shettima — and then delivered a long address laced with subtle jabs aimed at him.

“At a point, I felt like grabbing the microphone from him and hitting it on his head. That’s how provoked I was,” Fayose said, adding that he held back to avoid creating a scene and out of respect for Shettima.

Obasanjo has acknowledged receiving the money but stated that it was returned “in the same bag” through the person who brought it.

Fayose also revealed that his efforts to reconcile with Obasanjo before the birthday were entirely initiated by him, saying he visited the former president again in Abeokuta to settle old grievances. He added that the episode convinced him Obasanjo was not genuinely interested in reconciliation.

“If I knew this was how it would turn out, I wouldn’t have bothered. I don’t need Obasanjo for anything — I’m not contesting any election,” he said.