Edide!!! Ejoko!!!: Obasanjo Orders Oyo Monarchs To Stand Up And Honour Him
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo caused a stir on Friday when he ordered some traditional rulers in Oyo State to stand up and greet him at a road commissioning ceremony in Iseyin.
Obasanjo, who was the special guest of honour at the event, said that elected officials such as the governor and the president deserve respect from the monarchs, regardless of their status.
He spoke in Yoruba and reminded the audience of the Omoluabi culture of the Yorubas, which values age and position.
“Thank you. Please, be seated. Firstly, I greet you all monarchs and royal fathers and thank you for coming,” he said. “But let me make something clear: whenever the governor or the president is present, even the royal father must stand up to honour the president (or the governor).”
“Stand up! You can have your seat. Please!!!” he commanded them.
The elder statesman said that he honoured traditional rulers when he was the president, but added that it was important for them to recognise the authority of the governor and the president.
He said, “In our (Yoruba) culture, we honour two main things: age and position. The governor’s position is higher than that of any monarch in as much as he is still the governor”.
Obasanjo was at the commissioning of a 34.85 km Oyo-Iseyin Road and the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Iseyin Campus, which houses the College of Agricultural Sciences and Renewable Natural Resources.
The road project was initiated by the previous administration of Abiola Ajimobi and completed by the current governor, Seyi Makinde.
The university campus was established by the Oyo State government after it ceded its ownership of the main campus in Ogbomoso to Osun State last year.
Obasanjo commended Makinde for his achievements and urged him to continue to serve the people with integrity and humility.
