Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National leader of the All Progressives Congress, has described as political mischief the attempt to misconstrue his statement concerning obas in Yorubaland.
Tinubu said: “I have never referred to any oba in Yorubaland as uncultured.
“I hold obas in high esteem.
“I have so many titles, especially from Yorubaland.
“Only those involved in political mischief will try to misconstrue the praises I have given.
“They are just making a mistake.”
Former Governor Tinubu made this clarification while responding to a question by a journalist about his views on the role he thinks the obas should play in ensuring national security and free and fair elections.
Speaking further, Tinubu said: “During the age of colonialism, the obas were the custodians, even the defenders, of our territory and ever since they have been protecting us in their own cultural ways, especially great Obas like the Alafin of Oyo, the Soun of Ogbomosho and even the Ooni of Ife among several others.
“Like the 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 Yorubaland as uncultured.”
Tinubu spoke after the APC flag hand over to its gubernatorial candidate for the Jul 21 election in Ekiti State, Governor Kayode Fayemi, in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday.
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