NNPP Chieftain, Ajadi Backs Obasanjo’s Action Against Obas In Iseyin …….Cautions Monarchs Against Partisan Politics

A Chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NNPP), Comrade Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has backed former president Olusegun Obasanjo on the need for the traditional rulers to respect constituted authorities like the Governor and the President.

Oguntoyinbi, NNPP’s gubernatorial candidate in Ogun State in the last general elections, appealed to the traditional rulers to restrain themselves from active and partisan politics, but to remain opinion leaders in the various communities to continue to earn their due respect.

It could be recalled that last Friday some traditional rulers in Oyo State refused to stand up when the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde and former president Obasanjo arrived at the venue of the commissioning of Oyo-Iseyin road leading to Chief Obasanjo lambasting them for their disrespect to the Governor and himself.

The development has started generating reactions with some people condemning the former president on his alleged open disparaging of the Obas, while some have diverse opinions.

Speaking on the issue in a statement on Monday, while backing Chief Obasanjo, Ajadi said that traditional rulers should not dabble into active politics, but rather continue to preside over their towns or communities, while the governors preside over states and the President should preside over the whole country.

He said that though traditional rulers as custodians of our culture deserve respect, respect is reciprocal .

According to him, “When governors or president visit the traditional rulers in their palaces, they usually give them respects they deserved but at public functions where they are seated before the arrival of the governors or president, courtesy demand that they give respect to the governors or president.”

He said that most traditional rulers have dabbled into politics, adding that some of them openly align with political parties, hence the little respects they receive from political office holders.

He highlighted the role of traditional rulers as that of impartial advisors in Nigerian politics, expressing concern that their involvement in partisan politics could lead to their humiliation by political figures.

“Traditional rulers, especially the Obas in Yoruba land, would not be humiliated by political office holders, be it governors or the president, when they stop being partisan.

“Our Kings are expected to be fathers for all politicians by giving them pieces of advice and guidance on how to achieve good governance, but not by being partisan.

“However, what is playing out is that most of them are politically aligned and with their involvement in politics it would be difficult for them to get the deserved respect,” he said.