Why Obasanjo must apologise to our royal fathers — PDP chieftain

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State, Olumide Akinrinlola, has condemned the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, for allegedly insulting some monarchs in Oyo State.

Obasanjo, in a viral video, was seen ordering the traditional rulers in Oyo State to stand up and greet the state Governor, Seyi Makinde, at a project inauguration in Iseyin on Friday.

It was reported that the former President said despite their status, it was important for them to honour elderly persons and those in positions of authority in line with the Omoluabi ethos.

The Ondo PDP chieftain, in a statement on Saturday, said it was a mark of disrespect to the monarchs and the entire Yoruba land, for Obasanjo to order the royal fathers, to stand up and also to rebuke them for not standing when the governor entered into the arena.

According to him, there was a need for the former president to write a letter of apology to the traditional rulers.

He said, ” With due respect to the elder statesman, a father, and former president of our country, I am sorry to say that this is an insult taking too far. This is because traditional thrones are sacred and older than any president, governor or any human being in existence.

“The thrones the monarchs are occupying are the royal thrones of their forefathers and ancestors. There is no throne in any part of Yoruba land and across the world that is not older than any government institution and human existence.

“Traditional institutions are revered all over the world. The respect we have for our monarchs is for the throne/seats they occupy and not the occupier. The moment a king is installed, he becomes the oldest in the land and a father to all. Not because of his age, but because he is occupying a throne that is older than any human existence.”

Insisting that the former president Obasanjo was wrong on his assertion, Akinrinlola noted that “being a governor or president does not make you older or bigger than the royal fathers who are symbols of their communities.”

“We can’t continue to denigrate our royal fathers in the name of political positions. Can baba (Obasanjo) order the Oba of Benin to stand up for him like that. I repeat, it is an insult taking too far. Baba OBJ should please apologise to the entire Yoruba race.”