Reuben Abati’s wife, Kikelomo Atanda-Owo, has expressed displeasure over former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose’s post-birthday remarks and his confrontation with former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Mr Fayose had on Monday criticised Mr Obasanjo over comments made during his 65th birthday celebrations in Lagos, describing the ex-president as belonging in a zoo.
Speaking on Wednesday on her weekly Silverbird Television programme, Real Talk With Kike, Mrs Kikelomo said the long-standing rift between Fayose and Obasanjo is widely known and should not have been highlighted during the birthday event.
She said milestone celebrations are meant for reflection, gratitude and appreciation, not for political disputes.
She questioned why Fayose would bring together parties aware of their strained relationship, saying, “A 65th birthday is not the platform for forced reconciliation between political foes, especially when both parties have shown time and again that their relationship is fractured beyond a casual handshake.”
Kikelomo added that Fayose should have focused on family matters, noting that his mother and siblings stayed away due to internal disputes.
She also urged Obasanjo to show restraint, saying, “Chief Obasanjo is older and should have set the tone for maturity. When elders act without tact, it sends the wrong message to the younger generation.”
She concluded that both men missed an opportunity to prioritize reconciliation, with Fayose focusing on family and Obasanjo handling the situation with care.
