VANGUARD
Following reactions that greeted the commands issued by former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to traditional rulers in Oyo State last Friday, the former President on Monday said he stands by his action.
Recall that some traditional rulers at an event in Iseyin, Oyo State, on Friday, were commanded by Obasanjo to stand up and sit down as a sign of respect to Governor Seyi Makinde.
The incident occurred during the commissioning of the Iseyin campus of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso.
Obasanjo was invited by Makinde as a special guest of honour for the commissioning of the project.
In the course of the event, the former President commanded the traditional rulers at the event to stand up and sit down as a sign of respect to the governor.
Obasanjo, while addressing the gathering, told the traditional rulers that the governor’s position is superior to that of any king.
He said: “Please, please, all of you, the traditional rulers, I greet you, thank you for your presence.
“But let me say something. Anywhere there is a governor or president, traditional ruler, he has to stand up and greet the governor or the President. Stand up, sit down.
“Please in the Yoruba land, we respect two things: age and position. The governor’s position is superior to that of any king in as much as he is a governor.
“When I was a President, I prostrated for kings openly. But indoors, the king would bow down for me. Let us respect our culture,” he said.
Reactions
Some Yoruba leaders, including the Oluwo of Iwo, while reacting, said what Obasanjo did was an affront to Yoruba culture.
They asked Obasanjo to apologise to traditional rulers within seven days.
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