A group under the auspices of the Yoruba World Congress Worldwide, has called monarchs in Yoruba land to strip former President Olusegun Obasanjo of all chieftaincy titles bestowed on him with immediate effect.
This was contained in in statement by Secretary General of the group, Engr. Stephen Ajayi, adding that the traditional rulers should walk out of any event attended by Obasanjo.
Obasanjo on September 15 at an event in Iseyin, Oyo State ordered some traditional rulers to stand up and sit down with many people asking him to publicly apologise to the traditional rulers but he refused to do so.
The statement said the monarchs should strip Obasanjo off all the traditional chieftaincy bestowed on him without waisting more time, due to his failure to tender apology to the traditional rulers.
Ajayi urged the traditional rulers not to honour any invitation that is not noble for the position they occupy, stating that traditional rulers must speak with one voice concerning prestigious cultural heritage and the respect it deserved.
He also urged the National Assembly to enact a law for the creation of ministry for the traditional rulers.
“We in Yoruba World Congress Worldwide (YWC) established in the UK is by this open letter, reject and dissociate ourselves from the actions of Obasanjo and call for a revisit of the constitution as regards the traditional councils.
“We hereby call on the Federal House of Representatives and the Senate to as a matter of urgency create a Federal Ministry for the Traditional Rulers attached to the Presidency, to manage, secure and sustain our cultural values and heritage. This should have nothing to do with the State or ministries in the state so that our Royal Fathers can get back the respect they truly deserve.
“We have waited patiently for Olusegun Obasanjo’s sincere and remorseful public apology to the traditional rulers (our Obas/Kings) present at the event and to the Yoruba race as a whole for defying our cultural heritage in an embarrassing and inhuman manner publicly, which was never tendered. YWC hereby advice our Kabiyesis’ to:
“Walk out of any event that he (Obasanjo) is present or have the power to use the microphone. Not honour any invitation that is not noble for the position they occupy going forward.
“Speak with one voice concerning our prestigious cultural heritage and the respect it deserves.Strip Obasanjo off all Yoruba Chieftaincy titles bestowed on him with immediate effect.”
