The wife of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Mrs. Taiwo Obasanjo, has publicly sought forgiveness from the Oyo Obas (traditional rulers) and the entire Yoruba race for her husband’s recent actions, which led to the public humiliation of the traditional rulers.
During a recent event where he was a special guest at the commissioning of projects by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Obasanjo criticized certain Yoruba traditional rulers for not showing him the expected respect as a former president and the governor. He even ordered them to stand up in recognition of his presence.
This incident sparked immediate reactions, with various parties, including the Yoruba Council Worldwide and Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwo, calling on Obasanjo to issue an apology within three days or face consequences.
In a statement titled “Oyo Kings: A plea for forgiveness,” Mrs. Obasanjo expressed her sincere plea for forgiveness and pardon from all Yoruba individuals, including leaders, youths, and traditional authorities. She implored them not to hold her or her family responsible for Obasanjo’s actions.
Mrs. Obasanjo emphasized that she was speaking as a mother and a legitimate member of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s family. She publicly disapproved of the way her husband addressed the monarchs, deeming it unacceptable to God, the Yoruba race, and the institution of kingship. She believed that the traditional rulers should have been corrected privately and respectfully, rather than being humiliated publicly.
She acknowledged that the only infallible being is God and noted that even mortals, including kings, can be corrected in a more dignified and respectful manner.
Mrs. Obasanjo went on to apologize on behalf of her family, offering a heartfelt apology, both spiritually and physically, to all the kings of Oyo State, Yoruba kings, and the entire Yoruba race, both within Nigeria and in the diaspora. She earnestly requested permanent and eternal forgiveness, urging them not to hold her family responsible for her husband’s actions.
She concluded by providing some personal background, mentioning her longstanding marriage to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for over 40 years, their children, and her status as a grandmother. She firmly stated her disagreement with the humiliating treatment of the Oyo kings by her husband and expressed her hope that history would remember her for publicly apologizing to the Oyo kings and the Yoruba people on behalf of the Obasanjo family.
