The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi has berated former President Olusegun Obasanjo for disrespecting monarchs in Oyo State with a ‘stand up order’ and disparaging comments against royal stool.
Obasanjo, at the commissioning of College of Agricultural Sciences and Renewable Natural Resources of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Iseyin, Oyo State on Friday dished out orders to the traditional rulers at the event to stand up.
The furious ex-President chided the monarchs for disrespecting and disregarding him and the office of the Governor by remaining seated while introducing them at the programme.
Reacting to the incident, Oluwo in a statement through his Press Secretary, Alli Ibraheem, described the action of Obasanjo as an affront, intentional desecration, and sacrilege against revered stools of Yorubaland.
According to him: “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.
“I trust myself and my stool. At 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 desecrating of traditional institutions from the old man.
“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.”
He added: “I’ve strong assurance that such will never happen in and some few monarchs I will not mention. 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.”
He stated: “Kings are not toddlers. We are fathers. He(Obasanjo) will never dare that against the Northern Emirs. This action should be a great challenge to the Yorubas most especially the Royal Fathers.”
