Oyo Monarchs’ Saga: No Regrets Over My Stand – Obasanjo

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – Not in short supply of controversies around his private and public life, former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, says he has no regrets for his stands that the Oyo State traditional rulers were disrespectful in their conduct towards the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde.

At the opening of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology College of Agriculture and Renewable Natural Resources in Iseyin, Oyo State last Friday, the former President stirred up the hornet nest when he called out the royal fathers who attended the event.

Angry that the monarchs failed to show respect to Governor Makinde as he mounted the podium to address the gathering, Obasanjo ordered all of them to stand up, a development that sparked shock and resentment nationwide, particularly in the South West region.

And expectedly, knocks for the former president came from various quarters with the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, describing Obasanjo’s display as “condemnable”, noting that it was “an affront, desecration, and sacrilege against revered stools of Yorubaland”.

Having no kind words for the retired Army General, Oba Akanbi said; “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”.

Similarly, a statement by one Mrs Taiwo Obasanjo claiming to be the wife of the former President surfaced on Sunday and went viral in which she reportedly begged the Monarchs to forgive Obasanjo over the incident.

According to the statement titled; “OBJ Vs. Oyo Kings: A plea for forgiveness”, the woman said; “Obasanjo should not have treated the kings with open contempt and humiliation in order to correct them and reveal their secret that they bow for him privately.”

However, clearly not the type that readily shies away from a fight, the man popularly referred to by many as the Ota-born farmer fired back in a statement signed by his Media Aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, and made available to our correspondent in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Monday.

Though admitting that the said Mrs Taiwo Martins had two children for him, Jonwo and Bunmi, the statement maintained that “she is not his wife nor a member of the Obasanjo family”, even as 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 thus; “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.”