By Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti
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A pan Yoruba socio-cultural political organization, Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), has described as condemnable, the brazen denigration of traditional institution by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The group said such unconscionable conduct was least expected from someone who parades high ranking chieftaincy titles in Yoruba race.
ARG threatened to deploy every power within it to vehemently resist any onslaught on the sacred institution of Obaship in Yoruba land, branding monarchy as priceless and highly venerated to be treated with scorn and opprobrium.
It would be recalled that ex-President Obasanjo had disrespected some Oyo traditional rulers a couple of weeks ago, by ordering them to stand on their feet to honour Governor Seyi Makinde.
The ARG, Ekiti chapter, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Prince Michael Ogungbemi, in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, maintained that any attempt, deliberate or otherwise, to ridicule, denigrate or vitiate institution like the kingship won’t be tolerated from anyone.
The group posited that the institution epitomizes the nucleus and highly treasured as well as functional cultural values of Yorubaland that shouldn’t be desecrated by anyone.
Afenifere stated that ex-President Obasanjo, adjudged to be an elder statesman of Yoruba extraction, and who claims or pretends to be culturally-oriented, was the least expected to undermine such sacred institution.
Rapping the former President Obasanjo’s action, the group, maintained that such conduct was akin to a patent hubris informed by military mentality taken too far.
Prince Ogungbemi stressed that political office holders deserve unqualified respect and honour that is synonymous with their exalted offices, but shouldn’t be an avenue to hide to roundly abrade monarchical respect or throw mud at the Obas.
The statement said; “What protocol demands is that when political leaders gets to any public functions where traditional rulers are seated with royal splendour, it behoves on such political leaders to match gracefully with an aura of dignity to exchange greetings with such traditional rulers on seat,”