groups condemn ex-President’s disrespect for traditional rulers

Controversy is trailing commands issued by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to some traditional rulers in Oyo State on Friday.

Recall that some traditional rulers at an event in Iseyin, Oke-Ogun, Oyo State, on Friday, were commanded by Obasanjo to stand up and sit down as a sign of respect to the state governor, Seyi Makinde.

The incident occurred during the commissioning of the Iseyin campus of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso.

Obasanjo was invited by Makinde as a special guest of honour for the commissioning of the project.

In the course of the event, the former President commanded the traditional at the event to stand up and sit down as a sign of respect to the governor.

Obasanjo while addressing the gathering, told the traditional rulers that the governor’s position is superior to that of any king.

“Please, please, all of you, the traditional rulers, I greet you, thank you for your presence. But, let me say something, anywhere where there is a Governor or President, no traditional ruler, he has to stand up and greet the governor or the President. Stand up, sit down.

“Please in the Yoruba land, we respect two things: age and position. The governor’s position is superior to that of any king in as much as he is a governor. When I was a president, I prostrated for kings openly. But indoors, the king would bow down for me. Let us respect our culture,” he said.

But some traditional rulers, groups and individuals within and outside the state have expressed divergent views on the matter.

Those who spoke condemned the action of the former President