Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has explained why he ordered traditional rulers in Oyo State to stand and then sit.
He spoke in an interview with newsmen following the controversy his action had generated.
Obasanjo has been in the eye of the storm since the incident happened.
The former Nigerian leader was captured in a short video, ordering the monarchs to stand and greet himself and the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde at a project inauguration in Iseyin on Friday.
In the video, the former president, who spoke in the Yoruba language, had expressed displeasure to the monarchs for not rising to greet him and Makinde, describing the action of the royal fathers as disrespectful to the office of the governor.
In the interview, Obasanjo said he acted the way he did because the monarchs displayed utter disrespect for Governor Makinde.
“I arrived at the event venue with the governor,” the former president said from South Africa where he was attending the burial of politician Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who died on 9 September at 95. “As we arrived, every other person at the venue rose, but they (the monarchs) remained seated. I was surprised because I considered that a breach of protocol and disrespect for the governor.
“It later became the turn of the governor to speak. As he rose, every other person at the venue, including me, stood up as demanded by protocol and in respect for the governor and his office. Again, the Obas refused to rise. They all remained seated.
“I then asked people around whether that was the practice in Oyo State. I was told the Obas have always displayed disrespect for their governor. I wondered where they got that from and then decided to speak to them about it.
“As far as I am concerned, there is a constitution and there is culture. By our constitution, the governor is the leader of a state. Everyone must respect him no matter his or her status or age. He deserves respect no matter how young he is and protocols must be observed.
“That was why I spoke to them the way I did. I wanted them to realise that it is not part of Yoruba culture to disrespect authorities. Respect begets respect and they must learn to deal with their governor with respect if they want to be respected in return.
“I respect traditional rulers and even when I was President and till today, I treat them with reverence. I prostrate, bow, and knee before them as necessary.
“I respect our culture. But let us also know that there is a Constitution which puts a chairman as head of a local government, a governor as head of a state, and a president as head of our country. Whatever we do must be in respect for that arrangement. I am saying there is culture and there is a constitution. One must not disturb the other.”
