Ogun Monarch Rebukes Fayose’s Insult to Former President Obasanjo

The Olu of Orile Kemta in Ogun State, Oba Adetokunbo Tejuosho, has strongly criticised former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, over a message he sent to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, describing it as offensive and disrespectful.

The rebuke follows Fayose’s controversial thank-you note sent in the wake of his 65th birthday celebration in Lagos, where Obasanjo was the special guest of honour.

In a statement titled “A Royal Rebuke to Ayo Fayose”, Oba Tejuosho accused the former governor of being reckless and uncultured in his correspondence to the former head of state.

According to the monarch, Fayose’s note not only lacked decorum but also exposed a deep sense of arrogance and moral confusion.

The dispute escalated after Fayose publicly criticised Obasanjo, labelling some of his remarks at the birthday event as irresponsible.

He also demanded that the former president return the funds sent to facilitate his participation in the Lagos event. In a pointed response, Obasanjo reportedly returned the money through a messenger, leaving it unopened, and remarked that Fayose’s message revealed his unchanging nature.

Reacting to these events, Oba Tejuosho underscored the stature of Obasanjo as a former military ruler, a two-term civilian president, and a respected statesman whose influence spans not only Nigeria but the African continent.

The monarch argued that Fayose’s comments were not a show of bravery but a display of recklessness and immaturity.

“Mr. Fayose’s recent correspondence was not courage; it was simply unrestrained and reckless noise. It reflects his moral confusion and failure to distinguish between courage and foolhardiness,” Oba Tejuosho said.

The royal father further noted that Obasanjo’s achievements and contributions as a leader and as a figure of Yoruba heritage could not be diminished by petty insults.

Oba Tejuosho’s statement has sparked widespread discussion across political and social media circles, with many condemning Fayose’s approach as unbecoming of a former governor and public figure.

The incident adds another chapter to the ongoing tensions between Obasanjo and Fayose, highlighting the sensitivity surrounding public decorum and respect for elder statesmen in Nigeria.