Follow Us on Google
Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, said he stands by his position on the Oyo State traditional rulers whom he accused of disrespecting Governor Seyi Makinde.
On Friday at the opening of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology College of Agriculture and Renewable Natural Resources in Iseyin, Oyo State, he stoked controversy when he humiliated monarchs in attendance at the event.
He was angry that the monarchs failed to honour Makinde when he mounted the podium to speak. Obasanjo ordered all the traditional rulers to stand up, a development which has generated outrage across the country most especially in Yorubaland.
The Oluwo of Iwoland, Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, knocked the former president, describing his display as condemnable, affront, 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,” he said.
On Sunday, a statement credited to one Mrs Taiwo Obasanjo, said to be wife of the former president, went viral where she reportedly begged for forgiveness on Obasanjo’s behalf.
In the statement entitled: “OBJ Vs. Oyo Kings: A plea for forgiveness,” Taiwo said: “Obasanjo should not have treated the kings with open contempt and humiliation in order to correct them.”
But Obasanjo fired back yesterday in a statement by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
He 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.
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 read: “The attention of former president, 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 Obasanjo but to say emphatically that she is not his wife nor a member of the Obasanjo family.
“Her posturing as Obasanjo’s wife is false and that of an impostor. Nobody makes statement on behalf of the Obasanjo family except 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 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.”
