Obasanjo, who was invited by the governor to inaugurate the Oyo–Iseyin Road project, is seen in a viral video expressing displeasure that the monarchs did not rise to greet the governor. The former president, who spoke in Yoruba, described their action as disrespectful to the office of the governor.
“I greet the kings and chiefs here sitting; I am grateful that you are here. Let me say this: wherever the governor is or the president, the king has to stand up. Stand up,” he ordered them.
They stood up and he immdediately ordered them to sit down again..
Reactions have continued to surround the utterance as many Nigerians criticised Obasanjo’s action, saying it was disrespectful to the traditional institution.
The elders in a statement signed by the Secretary-General, Dr Victor Taiwo, and Publicity Secretary, Mr Lanre Ogundipe, lampooned the former president, saying “Obasanjo acting like an adept overwhelmed by the spirit of Sango celt repugnantly vituperating and lambasting the large congregation of our Obas in attendance and commandeering them in the utmost contemptuous and denigrating manner to rise, and sit down like an Army General would his soldiers.”
The group described the act as defamatory and shameful, adding that Obasanjo’s behaviour demeaned the Yoruba culture and tradition.
“When we saw this video, it initially occurred to us as a fictional movie. But when it dawned on us that it was a reality, lo and behold, it was a scene that could burst one’s lachrymal gland into rupture. For one thing, what Obasanjo did was infra dignitatem to our Yoruba culture and tradition. It was a taboo. It was arrant display of megalomania and utter rudeness to our crowns in Yorubaland.
“The position of our Obas could be discerned from their appellation as the Igbakeji Orisa (second-in-command to the deity). That the desecration of our Obas has come from a person in the status of Obasanjo is a great shame and denigration of the Yoruba culture and tradition. We, therefore, condemn this dastardly act from Obasanjo in all totality and we call for his public apology to all the disgraced Obas and the entire Yoruba people by extension.”
Also the Yoruba Council Worldwide described the ex-president’s act as sacrilegious and embarrassing to the Yoruba culture, insisting on an immediate public apology, or else a traditional and legal action would be taken against him.
The YCW President, Oba Oladotun Hassan, said at a press conference in Abuja, “The recent weeks have witnessed a barrage of monumental embarrassments, ridicules and brazen abuse of traditional royal Obas and most shocking to grasp with this well-intended orchestrated embarrassment by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who dropped the biggest bombshell taboo in the history of Yorubaland.
“Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has since left the corridors of honour. While we reiterate as the leading vanguard voice for all Yoruba people globally, we have an eternal duty to preserve the aesthetic distinct Omoluabi ethos, royal stool and ancestral customs and traditions of the Yoruba Obaship, precipitating our demand for immediate apologies by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo within the next three days or he will face untold traditional and legal reprisal consequences. This is not limited to filing action in a court of competent jurisdiction for defamation and scandalous libel, while we shall call for stripping him of all chieftaincy titles conferred on him by any Yoruba monarch.”
“Furthermore, we shall mobilise all market women, youths and leaders of thoughts against Baba Obasanjo for desecrating the Yoruba ancestral cultural heritage, norms, tradition and values.”
Reactions have continued to surround the utterance as many Nigerians criticised Obasanjo’s action, saying it was disrespectful to the traditional institution.
The elders in a statement signed by the Secretary-General, Dr Victor Taiwo, and Publicity Secretary, Mr Lanre Ogundipe, lampooned the former president, saying “Obasanjo acting like an adept overwhelmed by the spirit of Sango celt repugnantly vituperating and lambasting the large congregation of our Obas in attendance and commandeering them in the utmost contemptuous and denigrating manner to rise, and sit down like an Army General would his soldiers.”
The group described the act as defamatory and shameful, adding that Obasanjo’s behaviour demeaned the Yoruba culture and tradition.
“When we saw this video, it initially occurred to us as a fictional movie. But when it dawned on us that it was a reality, lo and behold, it was a scene that could burst one’s lachrymal gland into rupture. For one thing, what Obasanjo did was infra dignitatem to our Yoruba culture and tradition. It was a taboo. It was arrant display of megalomania and utter rudeness to our crowns in Yorubaland.
“The position of our Obas could be discerned from their appellation as the Igbakeji Orisa (second-in-command to the deity). That the desecration of our Obas has come from a person in the status of Obasanjo is a great shame and denigration of the Yoruba culture and tradition. We, therefore, condemn this dastardly act from Obasanjo in all totality and we call for his public apology to all the disgraced Obas and the entire Yoruba people by extension.”
Also the Yoruba Council Worldwide described the ex-president’s act as sacrilegious and embarrassing to the Yoruba culture, insisting on an immediate public apology, or else a traditional and legal action would be taken against him.
The YCW President, Oba Oladotun Hassan, said at a press conference in Abuja, “The recent weeks have witnessed a barrage of monumental embarrassments, ridicules and brazen abuse of traditional royal Obas and most shocking to grasp with this well-intended orchestrated embarrassment by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who dropped the biggest bombshell taboo in the history of Yorubaland.
“Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has since left the corridors of honour. While we reiterate as the leading vanguard voice for all Yoruba people globally, we have an eternal duty to preserve the aesthetic distinct Omoluabi ethos, royal stool and ancestral customs and traditions of the Yoruba Obaship, precipitating our demand for immediate apologies by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo within the next three days or he will face untold traditional and legal reprisal consequences. This is not limited to filing action in a court of competent jurisdiction for defamation and scandalous libel, while we shall call for stripping him of all chieftaincy titles conferred on him by any Yoruba monarch.”
“Furthermore, we shall mobilise all market women, youths and leaders of thoughts against Baba Obasanjo for desecrating the Yoruba ancestral cultural heritage, norms, tradition and values.”
from Punch
Such a narcissistic man
ReplyDeleteHe thinks he's a demi-god?
Really unnecessary behavior
Honestly, I have to place blame at the feet of the monarchs who didn't laugh off his drunken outburst and remain seated. Gbogbo aja to n gbo ko la n da lohun.
DeleteBaba OBJ is on the news 📰🗞️ almost everyday now
ReplyDeleteHe should have allowed the governor to take his decision or be the one to speak for himself. Baba,you would have stylishly ask them for a standing ovation as the governor match in.
ReplyDeleteMost of those elders are older than the governor, sabi governor don turn to God🤔
It's the office, institution, flag, coat if arms etc that you revere and respect not the person. OBJ prostrated before Olu of Warri 2 years ago or so. And the Olu then was not up to 40 years old.
DeleteBless u, I love reading from informed persons. OBJ prostrates to monarchs anytime they meet. He has done it to a couple of them including Olu of Warri & Oni of Ife. D Governor being d political custodian of authority in d state, deserves d honor from all his “subjects”. Bans was right.
DeleteBaba is writing a letter to give them is robust reply😁
ReplyDeleteHis normal way ☺
DeleteHe should respond to the letter his daughter wrote years ago.
DeleteMake them leave this baba jare
ReplyDeleteThose obviously aren't first class Kings so you cannot expect obasanjo to be paying homage to them. Obasanjo kneels before young Kings so far you're historical. Not one baale turned king by governor. Or would you expect obasanjo to be bowing for the class of elegushi Kings?
ReplyDeleteDid obj not dobaale for Oni of Ife?
ReplyDeletePeople were praising him highly then, why he come dey do double standard now. Please don't say it's because Oni is his king, he is not.
Hahahahahahaha baba oooo
ReplyDeleteObj is too full of himself.He is the worst attention seeking politician I have ever seen.Other ex presidents stay out of the affairs of whoever the president is but this one no go gree.He’ll be writing yeye letter up and down and doing notice me.How can you tell Oba’s to stand up for you,who are you?you are no longer the president
ReplyDeleteEyin aroba fin,idobale lan ki oba.
ReplyDeleteBaba Obj was wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe traditional rulers MUST BE SEATED before the Governor arrives at an occasion then the doors are shut,no more entry.
What's this?
He's drawing eyebrows, querying his "full Yoruba blood". Which one is get up and greet him? Hian.
It's a pity.
Even he cannot deny his parentage and he is fully connectedtohis real roots. It's just unfortunate that he is again giving his ancestral roots bad press. Where he comes from, elders and Kings are not spoken to in such manner.
Delete