Fayose explodes, alleges how Obasanjo used him to wreck ambition of Atiku, Markafi

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Thursday made shocking revelations of how former President Olusegun Obasanjo used him to wreck the presidential ambition of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Fayose also alleged that Obasanjo used him to stop the former Governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Markafi, from becoming the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in 2007.

These revelations are in the current edition of The Interview.

In a statement, made available to journalists Thursday, July 27 2017, the MD/Editor-In-Chief of The Interview, Azu Ishiekwene, described the edition as “a window on a dark troubling past and a must read for any important political figure who has crossed Fayose’s path in the last 18 years.”

Fayose alleged in the interview that Obasanjo took advantage of his naivety to attack former Abia State Governor, Orji Kalu, among other political foes.

He also revealed how, on two major occasions when he went to visit Atiku at the height of Obasanjo’s third term bid, security details promptly reported him to the then president, even before he left the venue, leaving him feeling spooky and vulnerable.

On the Obasanjo-Atiku saga, Fayose said: “Obasanjo told me that when you capture a general and you don’t kill him, he’ll come back and kill you; that since Atiku tried to stop him and failed, he must pay for it, and he (Atiku) is still paying for it.”

Fayose told The Interview that the scale fell off his eyes when, on a trip with former President Obasanjo to Tripoli, Libya, where Obasanjo had gone to ask Moummar Ghaddafi to support his third term bid, the former Libyan president treated Obasanjo like a serf.

Recalling the encounter, he said, “It was such a pathetic scenario, so shameful. Obasanjo was speaking rapidly like a parrot. I was shocked beyond words. I never knew Obasanjo would be that humble.

“He was on one knee till the end of the conversation. Gadaffi kept quiet and was just watching Obasanjo. When Obasanjo stopped rambling, Gadaffi said, ‘Have you finished? Just know that I will not attend that meeting. I have other engagements.’”

In a statement that could reverberate beyond Nigeria’s shores, Fayose said he knew, as an insider at the time, that Obasanjo betrayed former Liberian President, Charles Taylor to induce U.S. support for this Third Term bid, after promising Taylor safe haven in Nigeria.

He revealed how the current Chairman of the PDP was sidelined in favour of a sick and stubbornly reluctant Umaru Yar’Adua and his role in it as chairman of the Presidential Selection Committee.

Fayose warned Kalu against “selling” the Igbo down the river “for cheap politics” and blamed President Muhammadu Buhari’s government for making IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu popular.

He also spoke on his attempts to reach Buhari directly; former Governor Kayode Fayemi’s relationship with APC leader Bola Tinubu; and futile attempt to discourage former Governor Peter Odili from accepting Obasanjo’s dummy that he was heir apparent.

Meanwhile, the national chairman of the All Progressive congress (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun, has said that Governor Fayose has taken leave of common sense and all decency with his outburst against an elder statesman and president of the country, Muhammadu Buhari.

Oyegun speaking to journalists at the party secretariat on Thursday during the presentation of the reviewed constitution of the party by its Constitution Review Committee to the National Working Committee said he “hate to comment on anything the governor of Ekiti State says because when people have taken leave of common sense and all decency, when people have thrown overboard, basic cultural upbringing, when people cease to have respect for elders and cease to have respect for the fact that an elder statesman who is also president of this nation is going through a serious health crisis and seek to make fun of it and seek to say things that are totally unbecoming, it is not really worth commenting on. But I am glad that even yesterday, PDP governors went there.

“There has been sufficient information given to the public. We want to confirm that Mr. President is convalescing very strongly. Right now, all he is doing is having enough rest as much as he can, to build up his energy and stamina. But the worst is certainly over. Mr. President is going to come back and is going to face the responsibilities for which the people of this country elected him. I am glad to say that he is recovering beautifully.”

When asked when the president is expected back he said, “Only Mr. President can speak on when he is coming back, but I am glad that he is having a lot of rest and I wish it is not going to take a longer time to be truly ready. He is beautifully making progress with his recovery.

“We discussed issues with him, but basically it was a courtesy call. People were genuinely concerned and wanted to see him. We had a good chat with him and had a good meal as you could see. He is still his own jovial self. He asked so many questions about events back home, just wanting to get our own perspective. I personally enjoyed the visit and I came back very happy.

“Thank God, nice sober people were very excited and were happy with the pace of Mr. President’s recovery. We are glad that finally, even with the most hardened political adversary, that common sense and decency will finally prevail.”