Oyo Monarchs: Taiwo An Impostor, I Stand By My Positon – Obasanjo

• Kazeem Badmus

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Monday, said he stands by his position on the Oyo State traditional rulers whom he accused of disrespecting Governor Seyi Makinde.

This was as he said his former wife, Taiwo who begged for forgiveness on his behalf on Sunday, is an impostor and not a family member.

OSUN DEFENDER had reported that Obasanjo ordered traditional rulers during an event in Oyo State to stand up, a development which has generated outrage across the country most especially in Yorubaland.

 

A statement signed by Obasanjo’s Media Aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, and made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, Ogun State, admitted that Mrs Taiwo Martins had two children for him, Jonwo and Bunmi, but maintained that “she is not his wife nor a member of the Obasanjo family.”

According to the statement, the former President affirmed that “he stood firmly, unapologetically and uncompromisingly on the position that the Governor of a State holds the highest office in the State.”

The statement reads “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 a statement 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.”