Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has defended his action of scolding some traditional rulers in Oyo State for failing to rise and greet the state governor, Seyi Makinde, during a public event last Friday.
Obasanjo said he was surprised and disappointed by the behaviour of the monarchs, which he considered a breach of protocol and disrespect for the governor and his office.
Obasanjo spoke to Premium Times from South Africa, where he was attending the burial of politician Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who died on 9 September at 95.
He said he arrived at the event venue in Iseyin, Oyo State, with the governor and noticed that the monarchs remained seated while every other person at the venue rose to welcome them.
He said he was even more shocked when the monarchs refused to stand up again when the governor rose to speak.
He said he asked people around whether that was the practice in Oyo State and was told that the monarchs have always displayed disrespect for their governor.
He said he wondered where they got that from and then decided to speak to them about it.
He said he told them that there is constitution and there is culture and that by the constitution, the governor is the leader of a state and deserves respect no matter his or her status or age.
He said he also told them that respect begets respect and that they must learn to deal with their governor with respect if they want to be respected in return.
He said he respects traditional rulers and even when he was President and till today, he treats them with reverence. He said he prostrates, bows and kneels before them as necessary.
He said he respects Yoruba culture but also knows that there is a constitution that puts a chairman as head of a local government, a governor as head of a state and a president as head of the country. He said whatever they do must be in respect for that arrangement.
He said he is saying there is culture and there is constitution and that one must not disturb the other.
He said he spoke to them the way he did because he wanted them to realise that it is not part of Yoruba culture to disrespect authorities.
