The animosity between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams may not end anytime soon.
A purported reconciliation of the duo at the Lekki Phase 1, Lagos residence of Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo further pitched them against each other.
Obasanjo released the first salvo when he declared that no reconciliation took place, noting that he had no quarrel with Adams to warrant a reconciliation.
In a statement released the same day as the purported reconciliation, the former president said, “My attention has been drawn to some publications reporting an acclaimed reconciliation between Gani Adams and myself at the residence of Chief Ayo Adebanjo in Lagos.
“It is true that I paid a personal visit to Chief Ayo Adebanjo at his residence in Lekki Phase 1 on December 2, 2020, and I met Gani Adams there.
“I have no quarrel with Gani Adams, but for his past way of life which was not in accord with my standards and principles. I have in the past, both in government and out of government, refused to grant Gani’s request to visit me.
“If at all anybody feels I have a quarrel with him or her that needs reconciliation, such reconciliation will, no doubt, take place in my residence in Abeokuta only.”
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Reacting to the statement, Adams, the Leader of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), took exception to the reference to his “past way of life”.
In an interview with Vanguard, he said, “I think Obasanjo has the right to say there was no reconciliation on that day, but the only thing I do not like in that statement is someone condemning my character.
“I don’t know what Obasanjo meant by my past way of life. But all I know is that we don’t have the same character because I know Obasanjo is not a progressive element, either when he was in office and out of office, so we cannot share the same character. So, I can’t be in accord with someone who is not a progressive. So, when he said he does not like my character, President Obasanjo will not like the character of a progressive Nigerian.
“Secondly, talking about the issue of reconciliation, I’ve never requested any visit to his house. I don’t know where the information came from that I requested to meet him twice and he rejected it. I have never requested to meet Obasanjo, the meeting that was held at the home of Pa Adebanjo, was at the request of Pa Adebanjo.
“Initially, I refused but Pa Adebanjo is one of those people I respect most in Yoruba land, and I had no option than to oblige him.
“We met; we had a discussion, and I was so shocked when the statement came out.
“Ordinarily, I would not have reacted, but for Obasanjo to talk about my character in a negative way, because it may affect me and my family.
“The only thing I have in my life is my name; I don’t toy with it and I don’t want anybody to assassinate my character.
“I agree, we don’t share the same character of being progressive because he is not a progressive person.”