Olusegun Obasanjo forcing traditional leaders in Oyo State to stand and greet Governor Seyi Makinde at a project launch in Iseyin, Oyo State, on Saturday, according to the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, amounted to the destruction of Yoruba traditional stools.
In a brief video that was posted online, Obasanjo, who spoke Yoruba, expressed his anger with the kings for not standing to greet Makinde and called their behavior disrespectful to the governor’s office.
In a statement issued in response, Oba Akanbi criticized the former president’s behavior and requested an apology from him. The message was signed by Alli Ibrahim, his press secretary.
The Oluwo criticized the royal fathers who obeyed Obasanjo’s command, maintaining that Yoruba kings could not be viewed as uniform men to be ordered around.
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.”
