Yoruba group asks Obasanjo to apologise, blames Obas

A group under the auspicies of the Concerned Omo Yoruba Worldwide, has condemned the former President Olusegun Obasanjo for ordering some Yoruba Obas to stand up and greet him and the Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde.

The former President was reported to have ordered some monarchs to stand up and sit down during an inauguration of a road project by Governor Makinde, at Iseyin, Oyo State last week. Obasanjo has since been under attack over the act, which was considered to be an insult on the Yoruba Obas.

Speaking on the matter, on Tuesday, in a statement, the leader of the group, Akogun Tunde Omololu, said there was a need for the former President to tender an apology to the entire Yoruba race.

The statement was titled, ‘Obasanjo’s unacceptable conduct toward yoruba obas: a public apology we demand’. The group also blamed the Obas for concurring to order of the former President.

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It said, ” We address you today with deep concern and disappointment regarding the regrettable incident that transpired in Iseyin, Oyo State, on the 15th of September, 2023. This occurrence took place during the official road commissioning ceremony organized by the Oyo State Government, where Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was invited as the Chief Guest of Honor.

“However, the realization that it was a real event left us deeply disheartened. Obasanjo’s actions were profoundly beneath the dignity of our rich Yoruba culture and tradition; they constituted a grave violation and an affront to our cherished customs.

“It was an egregious display of arrogance and disrespect toward our revered Obas in Yorubaland. Our Obas hold a position of great significance, often referred to as the “Igbakeji Orisa” (next in line to the deities). Therefore, witnessing such disrespect towards our Obas, especially from a person of Obasanjo’s stature, is a source of immense shame and an insult to Yoruba culture and tradition.

“We wholeheartedly denounce Obasanjo’s reprehensible conduct and insist on a public apology to all the affronted Obas and, by extension, the entire Yoruba community. While we censure Obasanjo’s arrogance, we also express our disappointment in the Obas who attended the event and acquiesced to the commands of someone considered their junior.”

The group said it remained steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the honor, heritage and dignity of the Yoruba race in every aspect.

However, PUNCH reports that the Former President in a statement had insisted that he was not wrong to have ordered monarchs to stand up and show respect to the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, saying governors deserve respect.

Obasanjo stressed that he stood firmly, unapologetically and uncompromisingly on the position that the governor of a state holds the highest office in the state and should, therefore, be given the due respect as enshrined in the constitution.