In a recent visit to Oyo State, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo raised eyebrows when he commanded traditional rulers to stand up, only to instruct them to sit down moments later.
While this incident left many speculating about its implications, some local leaders have come forward to dismiss Obasanjo’s comments.
One of the kings present at the event, the Onipetu of Ijeru Kingdom, Oba Sunday Oyediran, expressed that the former president’s remarks should not be taken seriously.
Oyediran suggested that age might be catching up with Obasanjo, implying that senility could be affecting him.
In a conversation with Vanguard monitored by Quest Times, Oyediran explained, “Why should we bother ourselves with what he said? Age is catching up with him, and it appears senility is affecting him. Don’t let us misinterpret what happened.”
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He further clarified the circumstances surrounding the incident, stating, “It wasn’t Obasanjo that invited us to the event but Governor Seyi Makinde. If it was Obasanjo who invited us and he said what he said, we would not have obeyed him. Since it wasn’t Governor Seyi Makinde that humiliated us, why then should we walk out on him?”
Oyediran emphasized that the traditional leaders hold Governor Makinde in high regard and respect him for the honor he extends to them.
“That’s what people didn’t understand. Governor Makinde gives us our due respect, and we respect him too,” Oyediran noted.
“Even we respect Obasanjo too, but if you respect someone and he betrays that trust, it is left for him and his creator. We don’t see it the way people see it. We did what was expected of us. Obasanjo lied against us. We were standing before he mounted the podium. It was when he got the microphone that we sat down. Did he expect us to remain standing while he was talking?“