Obasanjo and the mess of traditional authority

By Busy Brain


In Nigeria, the media space is a mixture of human interest stories of different categories. From the leaked sex tapes to Mohbad's gruesome death and Obasanjo's powerful command of traditional rulers.

To me, the news that touches the heart most is that of Mohbad's sudden death because of the circumstances that surrounded his demise by his tormentors. His death is not only shocking but alarming and disturbing.

On the other hand, former President Obasanjo's drama is another human interest story that keeps one to wonder if such effrontery and boldness was a movie scene or it happened in a real-life situation. The command looks exactly like one of the scenes in the much talk about 'jagun jagun' movie, but it is not. It happens in real life at Iseyin, a town in Oyo State where traditional rulers were publicly denigrated to the lower ebb.

While growing up, the revelation we were fed about kings described them as the second in command to God, we were informed that the kings were sent by Olodumare (God) to come and rule over their subjects and whatever they say is supreme, and final. The revelation of this story has always been the perspective with which I used to see the monarchs in all circumstances. Those days, I was always confused, thinking the monarchs were not born like humans. The predominant opinion dominated my thoughts labelling the kings as creatures from heaven sent down to represent God. My thinking was weak and naive.

Similar to the real-life revelation about kings were the movies I was exposed to at a tender age. In many of these movies, kings were not always installed by any officials but through oracle consultation. In these movies, the least expected candidate always emerges as the king irrespective of his status. The kings were not considered by wealth, it is purely what the oracle says. Kings in the olden days movies were always portrayed as a sacred deity with full authority, influence, and affluence over the people in their subjects.

Of course, literature is the mirror of life, and movie as a literary genre mirrors life and reflects society. What normally happens in movies is a real-life situation that pictures how kings were installed in the olden days through oracle irrespective of their status after which they would be secluded for seven days for proper traditional rites.

Sadly, the stories have changed, and things that were considered sacred before have been turned upside down. Nowadays, kings are no longer second in command to God. They have been subjected to watching their tongues by government officials. The State Governors have replaced oracle and the seven-day seclusion rites are being observed in Dubai, USA, United Kingdom, and the direct consequences of these are public mockery and reproach.

A perfect paradigm of the Iseyin event when Obasanjo commanded monarchs to stand up was captured in one of the scenes in 'Jagun Jagun' movie where kings and regents were seen praising the manipulative role of Ogundiji for getting them on the throne. The monarchs admitted they did not merit the throne. They all got to the throne through the backdoor and influence. In actuality, how many monarchs merit the throne today? The royalty has been transformed to the highest bidder through lobby. Obasanjo indirectly commanded the monarchs to pay obeisance to the governor who enthroned them. Only those who were enthroned through the Oracle consultation would have the courage to sit back and dare his command. The kings did nothing wrong to give a standing ovation to the Governor as commanded by the former president. The government has taken over the traditional institutions.

In 2015, former President Goodluck Jonathan while seeking reelection bid knelt before the Kings to receive royal endorsement and prayers. If Jonathan, a non-Yoruba President could be on his knees for the Monarchs, where is the Obasanjo's constitution that mandated the kings to stand and greet the governor or president coming from?

Obasanjo has forgotten the sacred nature of the throne. He has forgotten they are second in command to Olodumare (God).

The Iseyin event has called for the traditional rulers to go back to the drawing board. The monarchs should better realize their stools are not meant for decoration of events. The traditional authority is sacred and should remain sacred. The time is now for our revered monarchs to act fast and save the royalty from public denigration.