Former Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose confirmed on Monday that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has repaid the $20,000 he gave him earlier this year, following a public disagreement between the two politicians.
In a recent interview, Fayose explained that about two weeks before a celebration he decided to mend fences with several political rivals, including Obasanjo, whom he referred to as “Baba.” He said he reached out to Obasanjo through a mutual friend, former aviation minister Osita Chidoka, who supplied the ex‑president’s phone number.
“I never called to go and apologise to Baba. I did not offend him. He was the one that removed me from office. If anybody should apologise, it is him,” Fayose said.
He added that Obasanjo invited him to his home a few days before the event and assured him that he would attend despite another commitment in Rwanda. At Obasanjo’s request, Fayose arranged travel logistics for the former president and, after changing $20,000, handed the cash to him.
“We took pictures together. All in good faith. I changed $20,000 and gave it to him. How can you accept somebody’s money and come and be spitting that person?” Fayose recounted.
The former governor said that after a scathing text he sent to Obasanjo, the former head of state returned the money. “I have written to him, and he has returned my $20,000. And I thank him for returning it. It is in my possession now. I have changed it to naira,” Fayose confirmed.
Asked how he felt after Obasanjo returned the funds, Fayose replied, “I am very happy. I will not allow such a man to carry my money away.”
Fayose also reminded the public of a past episode involving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors. He said that in 2005, 30 PDP governors were compelled to donate N10 million each to the Obasanjo Presidential Library. Now out of office, Fayose said he wants his share of that money back.
“I wrote to him, he (Obasanjo) did not publish that one, ‘my money, you can’t go with that money, baba.’ I wrote to him, with all humility, that since he has accepted at my birthday that he received that money through governors’ forum, that means the one for me, he should return that money. Whatever, I just want my N10 million. The moment I get it today, I will confirm that I received it. You can’t be disparaging people and be chopping their money, that is 419,” Fayose said.
The former president has not issued a public comment on the matter. The exchange highlights the ongoing political tensions between former allies in Nigeria’s volatile political landscape.
