The outburst of former president Olusegun Obasanjo against traditional rulers in Oyo State is still raising dust as former Aviation Minister and chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Femi Fani-Kayode has scolded the former Nigerian president, saying the Obidient spirit is now fully embedded in him.
Over the weekend, while mounting on the podium to speak at a public event in Iseyin, Oyo State, Obasanjo angrily ordered a few monarchs from the state present at the event to stand and greet him.
The action of the ex-president has been widely criticized, with many accusing him of denigrating the Yoruba traditional stool.
Reacting on his X Page (formerly Twitter), Fani-Kayode lampooned Obasanjo for ordering Oyo monarchs to “stand up” and “sit down.”
He said, “I am deeply saddened and utterly mortified by the way in which former President Olusegun Obasanjo lambasted our revered traditional rulers in Oyo State and “ordered” them to “stand up” and “sit down” as if they were children.
“This is the same OBJ that, once upon a time, displayed his respect, humility, and I daresay greatness by bowing, kneeling, and prostrating before our monarchs, even when he was President, yet today he talks to them as if they are his garbage collectors and orders them to jump up and down like a mole driver talking to his beleaguered passengers and a motor park tout talking to a bunch of jobless and worthless underlings.
“Many think that the whole thing is some kind of joke, but I do not.
“We must not take it lightly, and the truth is that by doing what he did, he has spat on all our faces.
“His words and behavior are a desecration of our values and a grave insult to the Yoruba people and our traditional institutions.
“I am constrained to be gentle and restrained in my criticism of Baba OBJ on this and so many other issues because of the undying love, respect, and reverence I have for him.”
“This is all the more so given the fact that I proudly served in his government.”
“However, his association with and support for Peter Obi in the last presidential election has diminished and demystified him in the eyes of most to such an extent that it has become pitiful and embarrassing. It is also indefensible.”
“How can a man who dedicated his life to and fought for a united Nigeria support a dishonest man and a religious bigot like Peter to be President?
“That the great OBJ is now a flaming obedient is the 8th wonder of the world. It really makes no sense, and it is simply mind-boggling.
“What we witnessed when OBJ insulted our traditional rulers in Oyo State yesterday was the Obi spirit, which is now firmly embedded in him at work.
“First he was at a gathering in Awka where the Yoruba race were labeled “political rascals” by some Igbo leaders without a response from him, and now he has the guts and effrontery to tell our traditional rulers to jump up and down like yoyos and clowns?
“Baba, this is too much. Please respect yourself and stop embarrassing those of us who still have some affection and respect left for you.”
The former president has, however, clarified that his action was because of the alleged disrespect of Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde, by monarchs in the state.
Although his wife has apologized on his behalf, Obasanjo is still insistence on his action.
