By Deji Komolafe
Professor Wole Soyinka mocked former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his action to order traditional rulers to ‘stand up and sit down’ at an event in Iseyin, Oyo state, a fortnight ago.
At a gathering on Sunday, Soyinka told some monarchs that he was not in their presence to bark at them to stand up and sit down, which made them laugh.
Former civilian president and military ruler, Olusegun Obasanjo, publicly rebuked some Obas in Oyo for allegedly not standing up to honour him when he was called to the podium.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had invited the ex-Nigerian leader to come and commission a project, but he was enraged that the traditional rulers present did not welcome him appropriately, leading him to disrespect them publicly.
As Obasanjo’s action has continued to receive wide criticisms for being a desecration of traditional institutions and an affront to Yoruba people, the Nobel Laureate joined Nigerians to take a jab at his Egba kinsman at the gathering.
“My royal highnesses, I wish to assure you that I’m not about to bark at you to ‘stand up and sit down’. This is a cultured gathering,” Soyinka said in the video.
Meanwhile, the former leader said he stood by his action in Oyo, following the apology another one of his many estranged wives, Taiwo, tendered on his behalf.
The development has degenerated into another embarrassing public spat between Obasanjo and Taiwo, as they called each other names in recent statements.
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