The Oluwo of Iwoland Oba Oba (Dr.) Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, Telu I has blamed his brother monarchs for the embarrassment meted to them by the former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo at Iseyin, in Oke Ogun area of Oyo State, yesterday.
He said the Obas were treated like kindergartens by the former ruler and wondered why none of them could rise up to the occasion by defending their thrones and their crowns rather than being treated in condescending manner.
He said he would never have been in such a gathering and be so tested without walking out or making his stand against such treatment known.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Alli Ibraheem, the Oluwo said: “I trust myself and my stool. At death, there are certain things my soul will not take, let alone when alive, active and kicking. I only blame the monarchs who stood in obeisance to such an ignoble and desecrating of traditional institutions from the old man. Respects should be earned not demanded.
Traditional Rulers respect their subjects too. There is a way respect is accorded to people of old age and position by monarchs. Kingship is an institution of God. As such, relating with kings requires a high sense of modesty, courtesy and respect.
The display by the former president of Nigeria, General Obasanjo was an affront, an intentional desecration and sacrilege against revered stools of Yorubaland. An injury to one is an injury to all. Yoruba traditional rulers are not uniform men anyone can command at will. I don’t blame him, those Royal Fathers who stood up to obey such an embarrassing direction are to be blamed.
I’ve strong assurance that such will never happen in and some few monarchs I will not mention “Iwo kogba igbakugba”
The show by the former general is condemnable. Yoruba traditional institutions demand an apology for the open desecration to molest and bring down the institution. He needs to prove himself as a core Yoruba man with an apology letter. Kings are not toddlers. We are fathers.
This action should be a great challenge to the Yorubas most especially the Royal Fathers. This is the result when monarchs joined Ogboni confraternity and became junior to a road side mechanical engineer or carpenter. As a responsible monarch, you don’t have to join any secret society where you may be controlled by a teacher or even a herbalist.
