- “For one thing, what Obasanjo did was infra dignitatem to our Yoruba culture and tradition. It was a taboo. It was an arrant display of megalomania and utter rudeness to our crowns in Yorubaland. “
*Photo: Obasanjo *
The Council of Yoruba Elders (YCE) has reacted to a viral video of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo ordering Obas to rise up and sit down at a public function in Oyo State.
YCE in a statement signed by Dr. Victor Taiwo, Secretary General and Mr. Lanre Ogundipe, Publicity Secretary said the action was sacrilegious and demanded an apology from the retired general.
Read the statement below:
BEING A PRESS STATEMENT FROM THE STABLE OF THE ‘COUNCIL OF YORUBA ELDERS (CYE)’
THE BLASPHEMY OF OBASANJO ON THE YORUBA OBAS: WE DEMAND PUBLIC APOLOGY
We write with great pains of the heart and regret of immeasurable quantum to imagine the ugly incident that occurred at Iseyin, Oyo State yesterday 15th September, 2023 on the occasion of the road commissioning by the Oyo State Government where Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was invited as the Chief Guest of Honour.
It was at this occasion that we saw, through a video which has gone viral, Chief Obasanjo acting like an adept overwhelmed by the spirit of Sango celt repugnantly vituperating and lambasting the large congregation of our Obas in attendance and commandeering them in the utmost contemptuous and denigrating manner to rise, and sit down like an Army General would his soldiers.
When we saw this video, it initially occurred to us as a fictional movie. But when it dawned on us that it was a reality, lo and behold, it was a scene that could burst one’s lachrymal gland into rupture. For one thing, what Obasanjo did was infra dignitatem to our Yoruba culture and tradition. It was a taboo. It was an arrant display of megalomania and utter rudeness to our crowns in Yorubaland.
The position of our Obas could be discerned from their appellation as the Igbakeji Orisa (Second in command to the deity). And so, that the desecration of our Obas has come from a person of the status of Obasanjo whose Yoruba identity is under question is a great shame and denigration of the Yoruba culture and tradition.
We, therefore, condemn this dastardly act from Obasanjo in all totality and so, we call for his public apology to all the disgraced Obas and the entire Yoruba people by extension.
While we condemn the arrogant act of Obasanjo, we also feel ashamed and let down as well by all the Obas in attendance who kowtowed to the command of the lesser mortal as pupil would their teacher.
This organization – Council of Yoruba Elders – has poised itself to protect the glory and dignity of Yoruba race in all ramifications.
E-signed:
*Dr. Victor Taiwo*
Secretary General
*Mr. Lanre Ogundipe* Publicity Secretary
