The Oluwo of Iwo Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi has slammed former President Olusegun Obasanjo for disrespecting traditional rulers in Oyo State with a ‘stand up order’ and condescending comments against royal stool.
Obasanjo, had at the commissioning of College of Agricultural Sciences and Renewable Natural Resources of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Iseyin, Oyo State on Friday handed down orders to the traditional rulers at the occasion to stand up.
The furious ex-President tongue – lashed the monarchs for disrespecting and disregarding him and office of the Governor by remaining seated while introducing them at the programme.
But reacting to the incident, Oluwo in a statement through his Press Secretary, Alli Ibraheem, described the action of the elder statesman as an affront, intentional desecration and sacrilege against revered stools of Yorubaland.
“Respects 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.
“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.
“Kings are not toddlers. We are fathers. He(Obasanjo) will never dares that against the Northern Emirs. This action should be a great challenge to the Yorubas most especially the Royal Fathers.”
