Obasanjo Justifies Why He Ordered Oyo Obas To Stand

• Kazeem Badmus

Former President Olusegun Olusegun Obasanjo has spoken on the reason why he ordered traditional rulers in Oyo State to stand and then sit.

OSUN DEFENDER reports that Obasanjo who was a special guest of honour last Friday during the inauguration of two projects in Iseyin, Oyo State ordered some Yoruba traditional rulers at the event to stand up and recognise his presence.

The development has however drawn the ire of stakeholders who asked him to apologise to the monarchs.

Speaking on Saturday, with PREMIUM TIMES, the former president said acted the way he did because the monarchs displayed utter disrespect for Governor Makinde.

He said, “I arrived the event venue with the governor. As we arrived, every other person at the venue rose, but they (the monarchs) remained seated. I was surprised because I considered that a breach of protocol and disrespect for the governor.

“It later became the turn of the governor to speak. As he rose, every other person at the venue, including me, stood up as demanded by protocol and in respect for the governor and his office. Again, the Obas refused to rise. They all remained seated.

“I then asked people around whether that was the practice in Oyo State. I was told the Obas have always displayed disrespect for their governor. I wondered where they got that from and then decided to speak to them about it.

“As far as I am concerned, there is constitution and there is culture. By our constitution, the governor is the leader of a state. Everyone must respect him no matter his or her status or age. He deserves respect no matter how young he is and protocols must be observed.

“That was why I spoke to them the way I did. I wanted them to realise that it is not part of Yoruba culture to disrespect authorities. Respect begets respect and they must learn to deal with their governor with respect if they want to be respected in return.”