The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, on Saturday, said
ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo ordering traditional rulers in Oyo State to
stand and greet Governor Seyi Makinde, at a project inauguration in Iseyin, Oyo
State, was tantamount to desecration of Yoruba traditional stools.
A short video of Obasanjo, who spoke in Yoruba language, had
surfaced on the Internet, expressing displeasure to the monarchs for not rising
to greet Makinde, describing the action of royal fathers as disrespectful to
the office of the governor.
Reacting, Oba Akanbi, in a statement signed by his Press
Secretary, Alli Ibrahim, condemned the former president’s action and demanded a
letter of apology from him.
Insisting that Yoruba monarchs could not be treated as uniform
men who would be ordered around, the Oluwo blamed the royal fathers who
responded to Obasanjo’s order.
The statement partly read,
“I trust myself and my stool. In death, there are certain things my soul
will not take let alone when alive, active, and kicking. I only blame the
monarchs who stood in obeisance to such an ignoble and desecration of
traditional institutions from the old man. Respect should be earned not
demanded.
“Traditional rulers respect their subjects too. There is a
way respect is accorded to people of old age and position by monarchs. Kingship
is an institution of God. As such, relating with kings requires a high sense of
modesty, courtesy, and respect.
“The display by the former president of Nigeria, General
Obasanjo was an affront, an intentional desecration and sacrilege against
revered stools of Yorubaland. An injury to one is an injury to all. Yoruba
traditional rulers are not uniform men anyone can command at will. I don’t
blame him, those royal fathers who stood up to obey such an embarrassing
direction are to be blamed.
“The show by the former general is condemnable. Yoruba
traditional institutions demand an apology for the open desecration to molest
and bring down the institution. He needs to prove himself as a core Yoruba man
with an apology letter. Kings are not toddlers. We are fathers. He will never
dare that against the Northern Emirs.”
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