>
Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said he has no regrets for scolding some monarchs in Iseyin, Oyo State, last Friday.
The former president had during the inauguration of 34.85km Oyo-Iseyin Road and the completed Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Iseyin Campus, which houses the College of Agricultural Sciences and Renewable Natural Resources, lectured some traditional rulers on the need to respect culture and give honour to whom honour it is due.
He 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.
Several people have since criticised Obasanjo for tongue-lashing the traditional rulers and ordering them to rise, describing his action as a desecration of Yoruba culture and tradition.
However, Obasanjo, in a statement made available to newsmen by his media aide, Kehinde Adeyemi, said that he would remain firm, unapologetic and uncompromising in his position that the governor holds the highest office in a state.
The former president noted that the respect, protocol and dignity that must be given to the office of a governor by virtue of the Constitution must not be denied, stressing that to do otherwise is to deride the office and the Constitution.
Obasanjo also rubbished a statement allegedly issued on behalf of his family by one of his wives, Ms. Taiwo Martins, describing the person as an impostor.
“The attention of former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has been drawn to a statement purportedly issued by a wife of the President with the photograph of one Ms. Taiwo Martins as the author of the statement.
“For the records, Ms. Martins has two children, Jonwo and Bunmi, for Chief Obasanjo, but she is not his wife nor a member of the Obasanjo family.
“Her posturing as Chief Obasanjo’s wife is false and that of an impostor. Nobody makes statement on behalf of the Obasanjo family except Chief Obasanjo or people delegated by him to do so.
“It must be noted that the state of health of Ms. Martins is known to all and sundry and whatever she says or does has nothing to do with Chief Obasanjo as an individual or the Obasanjo family as a whole.
“However, the former President has affirmed that he stood firmly, unapologetically and uncompromisingly on the position that the Governor of a State holds the highest office in the State. “
By that position, the respect, protocol and dignity that must be given to the office by virtue of the Constitution must not be denied. To do otherwise is to deride the office and the Constitution,” the statement read.