Oluwo Dares Obasanjo On Order To Royal Fathers, Says It Is Sacrilege – Oluwo

By Ayodele Oni

The Oluwo of Iwo, in Osun state, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has said that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has desecrated Yoruba tradition for ordering Traditional Rulers in Oyo State to stand and greet Governor Seyi Makinde, at a project inauguration in Iseyin, Oyo State.

A short video of Obasanjo, who spoke in Yoruba language, had surfaced on the Internet, expressing displeasure that the Monarchs did not stand up to greet him and Governor Makinde, describing the action of Royal Fathers as disrespectful to the Office of the Governor.

Reacting on Saturday,  Oba Akanbi, in a statement signed by his Press Secretary, Alli Ibrahim, demanded a letter of apology from Obasanjo, insisting that Yoruba Monarchs could not be treated as uniform men that are being commanded.

Oluwo, however  blamed the Royal Fathers that responded to Obasanjo’s order.

The statement partly read,  “I trust myself and my stool. In 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 desecration of Traditional Institutions from the old man. 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.

“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 be blamed.

“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.”