•Stands by position to traditional rulers
James Sowole in Abeokuta
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, disowned a woman, who claimed to be his wife and apologised on behalf of the former president, for being rudely to some Obas in Oyo State at a public function.
The position of Obasanjo, was expressed in a statement by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi.
There had been controversies over a viral video, in which Obasanjo ordered some traditional rulers in Oyo State, to stand up in order to respect protocol in line with the constitution.
The video, pitted Obasanjo against some people, who slammed him for openly desecrating Yoruba traditional institution.
However, as the controversies raged, a woman, who claimed to be Mrs Taiwo Obasanjo, appeared in a another viral video, apologising on behalf of the former President.
Not satisfied with the development, Obasanjo in a statement, disowned the woman.
The statement read: “The attention of former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has been drawn to a statement purported to be issued by a wife of the President with the photograph of one Ms. Taiwo Martins as the author of the statement.
“For the records, Ms. Martins has two children, Jonwo and Bunmi, for Chief Obasanjo but to say emphatically that she is not his wife nor a member of the Obasanjo family.
“Her posturing as Chief Obasanjo’s wife is false and that of an impostor. Nobody makes statement on behalf of the Obasanjo family except Chief Obasanjo or people delegated by him to do so.
“It must be noted that the state of health of Ms. Martins is known to all and sundry and whatever she says or does has nothing to do with Chief Obasanjo as an individual or the Obasanjo family as a whole.
“However, the former President has affirmed that he stood firmly, unapologetically and uncompromisingly on the position that the governor of a state holds the highest office in the state.
“By that position, the respect, protocol and dignity that must be given to the office by virtue of the Constitution must not be denied. To do otherwise is to deride the office and the Constitution.”
