Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, says 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, amounted 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. The former president had described the royal fathers’ action as disrespectful to the governor.
But in his reaction in a statement by his Press Secretary, Alli Ibrahim, on Saturday, Oba Akanbi, condemned Obasanjo’s action, demanding a letter of apology from him.
The Oluwo, who insisted that Yoruba monarchs could not be treated as uniform men who would be ordered around, blamed the royal fathers who responded to Obasanjo’s order.
His statement read in part, “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.”