Skip to main content

"Give The Governor, Due Respect As Enshrined In The Constitution." Obasanjo Affirms His Statement On Oyo Monarchs — Aide

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, made available a statement to journalists on Monday via his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi.

The statement partly read:

The former president was not wrong to say, monarchs should show respect to the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde. The respect, the protocol and the dignity that must be given to the office of the Governor by virtue of the constitution must not be denied. To do otherwise is to deride the office and the constitution.” 

               Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

“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.

Obasanjo, who came under heavy criticism from several Nigerians over his stand-up order to monarchs present at the unveiling of the Iseyin campus of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology on Friday, has given reasons for his action.

"As we arrived (at the venue with the governor), every other person at the venue rose, but they (the monarchs) remained seated. I was surprised because I considered that a breach of protocol and disrespect for the governor.

“It later became the turn of the governor to speak. As he rose, every other person at the venue, including me, stood up as demanded by protocol and in respect for the governor and his office. Again, the Obas refused to rise. They all remained seated.

“I then asked people around whether that was the practice in Oyo State. I was told the Obas have always displayed disrespect for their governor. I wondered where they got that from and then decided to speak to them about it.

“As far as I am concerned, there is constitution and there is culture. By our constitution, the governor is the leader of a state. Everyone must respect him no matter his or her status or age. He deserves respect no matter how young he is and protocols must be observed.

“That was why I spoke to them the way I did. I wanted them to realise that it is not part of Yoruba culture to disrespect authorities. Respect begets respect and they must learn to deal with their governor with respect if they want to be respected in return.

“I respect traditional rulers and even when I was President and till today, I treat them with reverence. I prostrate, bow, and kneel before them as necessary.

“I respect our culture. But let us also know 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 our country. Whatever we do must be in respect for that arrangement. I am saying there is culture and there is constitution. One must not disturb the other,” the former president was quoted as saying.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Nadia Mohammed-First Somali-American Elected Mayor

Two months after making history as America's first Somali-American elected mayor by voters, 27-year-old Nadia Mohamed is sworn in as mayor. Nadia Mohammed  She was sworn in at the city council of St. Louis Park in the US state of Minnesota. Ms Mohamed secured 58% of the vote to win last November's mayoral poll. Nadia Mohammed is the youngest and the first Muslim and black elected mayor in the city, whose family moved to Minnesota from Kenya's Kakuma refugee camp when she was 10, after fleeing war in Somalia. Her family migrated to Kenya after the civil war in Somalia, and she lived in the Kakuma refugee camp until she was about 10. "Well, my identity is one part of my story, right? I am proud of everything that I am, but I don't want that to be the only story. I don't want that to [be] where people stop their conversation," Ms Mohamed told Minneapolis-based KARE TV station after her election. She has listed public safety and affordable housing as some of t...

Lady Offers To Donate Her kidney To Sonia Ekweremadu

  Responding to the daughter of Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Sonia Ekweremadu's passionate appeal for a kidney donor. A 24-year-old lady, Annastasia Michael, has written an open letter to  Sonia via Facebook, offering to donate one of her kidneys to save her life. Annastasia wrote; "Kidney donation To Sonia Ekweremadu. "I (Annastasia Michael Olamma) want to donate one of my kidney to Sonia Ekweremadu to save her life. I have made up my mind to do this to prove women can help women. If any of her relatives mum, dad, and siblings, cannot give out their kidneys to save their Bloodline, Then i will donate my own to save Sonia and I demand nothing in return. I pray it matches with her own. I am 24 years old ,I don’t take alcohol, and I believe my kidney is very healthy to donate. I have sent message to her email @helpsonialive@gmail.com and anticipate for her reply. May God heal you  🙏 😢 #womensupportingwomen #helpsonialive #sonialivematters. This is coming after the 25-year-old ...

A Huge Progress In The Elimination of Nigeria's Neglected Tropical Diseases, Says Health Minister

The Federal Government through the Ministry of Health (FMOH) has announced the elimination of River blindness in Plateau and Nasarawa states while marking the 2024 World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Day.                      Dr.  Muhammad Ali Pate Speaking during a news conference to mark the 2024 World NTDs Day in Abuja on Tuesday. With this year’s theme being “Unite, Act, Eliminate NTDs.” The minister, Dr Muhammad Ali Pate, emphasized the global impact of NTDs, affecting 1.6 billion people, predominantly in developing nations.  Prof. Muhammad Pate, represented by Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, the Director of Public Health, under the ministry, announced that Nigeria has achieved commendable progress in the prevention, treatment, and elimination of NTDs. He disclosed that; "However, it is gladdening to note that substantial progress has been made over the last decade, as evidenced by some major achievements highlighted. “Ano...