NewStats: 3,264,060 , 8,182,464 topics. Date: Monday, 09 June 2025 at 01:39 PM 2k1y45

Former President Olusegun Olusegun Obasanjo has reacted to the controversies being generated by his order to traditional rulers to stand and then sit during the inauguration of two projects in Iseyin, Oyo State last Friday.

Obasanjo was a special guest of honour at the inauguration of the road projects constructed by Governor Seyi Makinde.

However, rather than the projects, it was Obasanjo’s order to traditional rulers at the occasion to stand up and then sit down as depicted in a video that went viral grabbed the headlines.

Yoruba groups, monarchs and other critics have accused Obasanjo of disrespecting the traditional institution with the way he treated the kings at the occasion.

Taiwo, one of the former wives of the former President also appealed to the traditional institutions in Yorubaland to forgive her former husband in a statement on Sunday.

However, Obasanjo in an exclusive interview with Times justified his action.

He said he ordered the traditional rulers to stand up during the occasion because they refused to do so during his arrival alongside Governor Makinde at the event.

Obasanjo said the refusal of the traditional rulers to stand up was a disrespect for Governor Makinde and a breach of protocol.

He added that the monarchs also refused to stand up when the Governor mounted the podium to read his address.

The former President said he later learnt that the Obas have always shown disrespect for the Governor and that’s why he decided to correct them at the occasion.

“It later became the turn of the governor to speak. As he rose, every other person at the venue, including me, stood up as demanded by protocol and in respect for the governor and his office. Again, the Obas refused to rise. They all remained seated.

“I then asked people around whether that was the practice in Oyo State. I was told the Obas have always displayed disrespect for their governor. I wondered where they got that from and then decided to speak to them about it.

“As far as I am concerned, there is constitution and there is culture. By our constitution, the governor is the leader of a state. Everyone must respect him no matter his or her status or age. He deserves respect no matter how young he is and protocols must be observed.

“That was why I spoke to them the way I did. I wanted them to realise that it is not part of Yoruba culture to disrespect authorities. Respect begets respect and they must learn to deal with their governor with respect if they want to be respected in return.

Obasanjo noted that contrary to the criticisms that have trailed his action, he has a lot of respect for traditional rulers.

“I respect traditional rulers and even when I was President and till today, I treat them with reverence. I prostrate, bow and knee before them as necessary.

“I respect our culture. But let us also know that there is a Constitution which puts a chairman as head of a local government, a governor as head of a state and a president as head of our country. Whatever we do must be in respect for that arrangement. I am saying there is culture and there is constitution. One must not disturb the other.”

https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2023/09/18/obasanjo-i-ordered-obas-to-stand-because-they-were-disrespectful/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

baba Obj, Na lie you dey lie🤥

We know say you're trying very hard to shield Obi's image from public dragging.
We know say na Peter Obi manipulated you into disrespecting Yoruba monarchs.

Oya! let's come together and blame Peter Obi

Funkyswagzz:


Bros wetin come bring obi to this Mata.. this is a family affairs u guys should sort it out by yourselves. Besides campaign is over what is wrong with u guys.

goslowgoslow:

Your mumu never do?

Haba!
is it that these my able bodied guys don't identify sarcasm when they see one or what?
Broses, na sarcasm jare.

Let's blame Peter Obi according to one lunatic like that, that calls himself FFK.

He's gonna rue that.

I don't understand the hypocrisy of my Apc yoruba Muslim brothers

This is seyi tinubu dragging oba of lagos beards yet everyone turned a blind eye but obj telling those chiefs he's far older than to stand and greet him is a problem.

Because obj s Peter Obi? Why the hate??

President obasanjo did nothing wrong.
I do not know of any top personality living or dead that respects traditional lnstitution like president obasanjo does, despite his age and personality.

The truth is that with the exception of very few kings and obas, the traditional stool has been bastardized by the so called rulers.

Many so called rulers are miscreants and touts.
Imagine the miscreant oba in lekki lagos who brought out "oro" in broad day light during election, in the name of stopping people from voting LP.
Many others were disgracing themselves here and there for tinubu.

Oba of Lagos who is usually threatening people here and there during election was only silent and humble this time around because of the Nebuchadnezzar treatment given to him the other time.

The oba of Benin is one of the few who shows how kings should rule.
There is one first class Oba in ekiti state I can't his name. He is also a shining light.
There are few others here and there.

As a king, you are father to all. You are not a political party coordinator. You reduce yourself to a joke when you go political.

E di dey, E joo koo.

Obasanjo was just lecturing them on the laws of the lands (as an elder state-man), but some rice bandits will still find stupid meaning out of
it based on personal hatred they have for him.

I you OBJ. They're used to being prostrated to.

Dem no born any traditional ruler in Rivers State well to disrespect Wike when he was governor. He takes care of them just like he's doing in FCT.

BossGerald:
I don't understand the hypocrisy of my Apc yoruba Muslim brothers

This is seyi tinubu dragging oba of lagos beards yet everyone turned a blind eye but obj telling those chiefs he's far older than to stand and greet him is a problem.

Because obj s Peter Obi? Why the hate??

Hypocrisy at it's finest.

The true face of hypocrites

Corn-brain Agbadorians are generally disrespectful. 👋

Liar

This yamiiri still dey talk.

We are Yorubas.

We don’t wake our parents and obas up with side-kicks.

What Obj did is a taboo in Yoruba land.

I dey with you

Oba's in the mud, Gov seyi will start dealing with them for disrespecting him

c

You were disrespectful with your approach

Baba you did well, no mind envious individual trying to insult you for scolding and correcting those old men called obas

“That was why I spoke to them the way I did. I wanted them to realise that it is not part of Yoruba culture to disrespect authorities. Respect begets respect and they must learn to deal with their governor with respect if they want to be respected in return.



Baba OBJ have spoken!

QED

The Most DisRespectful Tribe in the World

Man of steel

Will he have instructed Oba of Benin or Emir of Kano to stand up if they were there

They’re apologizing on your behalf and you’re still shouting 😂😂😂

This guys old age has finally kicked in…🤔
I’m just imagining the humiliation those obas felt

He is an ex 2 time president ... they were meant to stand up when he got to the podium ...that's courtesy

All of these was Peter Obi's fault; According to FFK 🤡🤡🤡

Give to them wotowoto Obasanjo my man.
We are tired of fake Yoruba respects which is only about money and opportunities.

How can Tinubu son be drawing Oba of Lagos bears be seen as normal but Obasanjo asking Obas to stand as abnormal. Am I getting something wrong?

Mathew

Them no born them well not to stand... hypocritical lots...Yoruba people are so deceitful

Na them sabi

General Olusegun Obasanjo the killer of Odi people of Bayelsa

The killer of Massob lunatics

Ebora Owu

The only man he couldn't conquer is Jagaban of Borgu, Asiwaju of Lagos, City Boy from Chicago


.

Alright Sir.

Just gift them jeep as usual,and the fok is fixed