by Dolapo Adelana

On Saturday, Ekiti Governor Ayodele Fayose urged former President Olusegun Obasanjo to emulate a former military head of state Abdulsalam Abubakar. Fayose, who stated this also said Obasanjo always acted like a saint that “does not see anything good in other people”.

Since his removal as Ekiti Governor in 2006, Fayose and Obasanjo have been at loggerheads.

Fayose who blames the former president for his removal has attacked Obasanjo time and again.

Here’s a timeline of the governor’s onslaught against Obasanjo.

December 05, 2010: Fayose after a thanksgiving service held in honour of former Osun governor, Olagunjoye Oyinlola, called “Obasanjo, the father of bastards”.

November 28, 2014: While speaking at a summit organised by Committee on Yoruba Progress which held at the Oduduwa Amphitheatre Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, the governor said Obasanjo does not like anyone with an independent mind. Fayose said Obasanjo had no right to castigate former president Goodluck Jonathan, “If you give your blood to Obasanjo, he will not support you”.

December 06, 2014: Fayose called for the suspension of Obasanjo from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He accused the president of fraternising with the All Progressives Congress (APC).

January 15, 2015: Just before the 2015 elections, Fayose urged Nigerians to be wary of Obasanjo. He accused the former president of supporting then All Progressives Congress candidate, Muhammadu Buhari despite knowing that he was too old to be president of a complex nation like Nigeria.

February 11, 2015: Speaking on Obasanjo’s open declaration of support for Buhari ahead of the 2015 election, Fayose said only gullible minds will listen to the former president.

February 15, 2015: The governor said, “Obasanjo is a cancer that may never get cured in a lifetime“. He accused the former president of being against Goodluck Jonathan for refusing to allow him (Obasanjo) control Nigeria from his Ota farm.

February 23, 2015: Fayose celebrated Obasanjo’s exit from the PDP in a bizarre way. The governor, who sponsored a full page advertorial in a national newspaper congratulated Goodluck Jonathan for Obasanjo’s departure, saying, “…the troubler and tormentor of our party is gone”.

July 19, 2015: The governor while speaking on a variety of national issues accused Obasanjo of having a disregard for the constitution during his time as president. He said the former president’s time was synonymous with the sacking of State Houses of Assemblies across the country.

July 20, 2015: Fayose implored Obasanjo to allow former President Goodluck Jonathan enjoy his private life and quit running him down.

November 13, 2015: The governor said the former president was begging for relevance, with his constant visits to the presidential villa.

December 16, 2015: Speaking in an interview where he accused the President Muhammadu Buhari administration of plotting to remove him, Fayose said Obasanjo is an expired man who goes to Aso Rock to beg every week.

February 12, 2016: Fayose in an interview with Osasu Igbinedion on The Osasu Show queried the source of Obasanjo’s wealth. He wondered where the former president got the money to build his presidential library and his home in Abeokuta.

March 25, 2016: Speaking at a reception held to welcome Ekiti lawmaker, Afolabi Akanni, who was detained by the Department of State Services (DSS), Fayose who spoke against President Buhari said Obasanjo was not a democrat.

September 04, 2016: Fayose accused Obasanjo of imposing President Muhammadu Buhari on Nigerians which according to him has led to hunger and suffering in the country.

October 16, 2016: Speaking to The Punch in an interview, Fayose accused Obasanjo of being the cause of corruption in the country today.

February 28, 2017: The governor while reacting to a statement credited to Obasanjo, where the former governor said his generation had failed Nigeria, stated that Obasanjo should accept responsibility for failing the country and not put the blame on others in his generation.

As we wrap this up, here is an apology dated July 18, 2012, written by Fayose begging Obasanjo for forgiveness.