Obasanjo receives threats for humiliating Oyo monarchs at public event
Former Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, has been reciving threats of ‘dire consequences’ as angry reactions continued to trail the ‘stand up, sit down’ order he issued to Yoruba traditional rulers at a public event in Iseyin, Oyo State on Friday.
Obasanjo berated the Obas for not standing up to acknowledge his presence and that of his host, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde at the ceremony.
But, the Oluwo of Iwo, Osun State, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, branded the action of the former President as disrespectful and declared that he (Obasanjo) could not talk down on northern emirs in same manner.
One of the Obas ordered to ‘stand up, sit down’ told a Nigerian daily, The Nation, how they all quietly left the venue, thoroughly embarrassed.
The Yoruba Council Worldwide gave Obasanjo a three-day ultimatum to apologise for showing disrespect to the monarchs.
The Oluwo, in a statement in Osogbo, said the former president’s action was an affront, intentional desecration and sacrilege against revered stools of Yorubaland.
He said: “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.
“I trust myself and my stool. At 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 desecrating of traditional institutions from the old man.
“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 blame.
“I have strong assurance that such will never happen in Iwo and some few monarchs I will not mention. Iwo kogba igbakugba (Iwo does not tolerate nonsense).
“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.”
Obasajo will face ‘untold reprisals’ unless he apologises – YCW
The Yoruba Council Worldwide (YCW) gave Obasanjo a three-day ultimatum to apologise for his alleged disrespect to the monarchs.
It threatened, in a statement, to mobilise all market women, youths and leaders of thoughts to protest against him should he fail to apologise.
Besides, the group claimed that he should be prepared to face “untold traditional and legal consequences not limited to filing action at a court of competent jurisdiction for defamation and scandalous libel,” if he failed to show remorse.
President of the group, Oladotun Hassan, and the Secretary, Siyanbade Adekanmbi, asked Obas to strip Obasanjo of all chieftaincy titles conferred on him.
Yoruba group supports Obasanjo’s action
However, another Yoruba group, Maja-Maja, defended Obasanjo and said the former president was merely correcting the Obas on protocol.
Chairman of the group, Adesina Akinpelu, said Obasanjo might appear to be too blunt as a result of his military background, those who have political scores to settle with him within the Yorubaland should not be allowed to cause unnecessary disaffection between the former President and the monarchs.
The group described Obasanjo as a Yoruba political leader of our time, who should be given his due recognition.
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