Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Monday, disowned his wife, Taiwo Obasanjo, barely 24 hours after she tendered an apology to Yoruba worldwide over the former president’s statement at Iseyin, Oyo State during the inauguration of projects executed by the state Governor, Seyi Makinde, last Friday.
Taiwo had in a report titled, “Oyo Kings: A plea for forgiveness”, begged “for permanent and eternal forgiveness and pardon from all Yoruba sons and daughters worldwide, fathers and mothers, youths, teenagers and children, Christians, Muslims, traditional worshippers, all leaders in Yoruba land and the Council of Kings in Yoruba land.”
But in a swift reaction, Obasanjo disowned Taiwo, saying she’s neither his wife nor a member of the Obasanjo family, but a mere impostor, despite having two children with him.
He, however, said he stood firmly, unapologetically and uncompromisingly on the position that a governor holds the highest office in the state and should therefore be given the due respect as enshrined in the constitution.
Obasanjo conveyed his position in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi.
His spokesman said he’s the only one authorised to make statements on behalf of the Obasanjo family or people delegated by him to do so.
According to the statement, “The attention of former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has been drawn to a statement purported to be issued by a wife of the President with the photograph of one Ms. Taiwo Martins as the author of the statement.
“For the records, Ms. Martins has two children, Jonwo and Bunmi, for Chief Obasanjo but to say emphatically that she is not his wife nor a member of the Obasanjo family.
“Her posturing as Chief Obasanjo’s wife is false and that of an impostor. Nobody makes statements on behalf of the Obasanjo family except Chief Obasanjo or people delegated by him to do so.
“It must be noted that the state of health of Ms. Martins is known to all and sundry and whatever she says or does has nothing to do with Chief Obasanjo as an individual or the Obasanjo family as a whole.
“However, the former President has affirmed that he stood firmly, unapologetically and uncompromisingly on the position that the governor of a state holds the highest office in the state.
“By that position, the respect, protocol and dignity that must be given to the office by virtue of the constitution must not be denied. To do otherwise is to deride the office and the constitution.”
