AYO FAYOSE CONFIRMS OBASANJO RETURNS $20,000 AMID FRESH CLASH, DEMANDS REFUND OF 2005 LIBRARY DONATION

Former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has confirmed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has returned $20,000 to him following a recent disagreement. Fayose detailed the events in a new interview, explaining that he had sought to mend fences ahead of his birthday celebration.

Fayose stated that two weeks before the event, he reached out to Obasanjo through a mutual friend, former Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka, who provided 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 recounted that Obasanjo welcomed him to his home days before the celebration and assured him he would attend despite another engagement in Rwanda. At Obasanjo’s request, Fayose arranged money for travel logistics. “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 spiting that person?” Fayose added.

Confirming the money was returned after a scathing text message to Obasanjo, Fayose said, “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.” When asked how he felt about the return, he replied, “I am very happy. I will not allow such a man to carry my money away.”

Furthermore, Fayose revisited a 2005 donation, restating that 30 Peoples Democratic Party governors were compelled to donate N10 million each to the Obasanjo Presidential Library. Now out of office, he is demanding his 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 stated.