The National leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has described the attempt to misconstrue his statement concerning Obas in Yoruba land, as political mischief-makers.
Tinubu made this clarification when responding to questions by journalists about his views on the role of Obas in ensuring national security and free and fair elections after the APC Flag Hand over to Dr. Kayode Fayemi in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday.
“I have never referred to any Oba in Yoruba land as uncultured,” Tinubu said.
“I hold Obas in high esteem. I have so many titles especially from Yoruba land. Only those involved in political mischief will try to miss-construe the respect I have always given the Obas. They are just making a mistake.”
Speaking further, Tinubu alluded to the pivotal role of Obas before Nigeria’s independent,.
“During the Age of colonialism, the Obas were the custodians and defenders of our territory and ever since, they have been protecting us in their own cultural ways,” he said.
He pointed especially to great Obas, like the Alafin of Oyo, the Soun of Ogbomosho and the Ooni of Ife among several others.
“Like Ooni of Ife said, they held forth while many of us were hunted and hounded out of the country by military dictators and history has documented our roles comprehensively. If we did not survive that period, we would all have lost whatever values we have now or the dispensation we now enjoy. But because we now have democratic institutions does not render them invalid and I have never referred to any Oba in Yoruba land as uncultured.”
