Former president Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday, September 18, said that he still stood by his “stand up, sit down” order issued to Yoruba traditional rulers from Iseyin in Oke Ogun area of Oyo state on Friday, September 15.

Obasanjo added that he would remain firm, unapologetically and uncompromisingly maintain the position that the governor holds the highest office in the state, which informed his remarks and the ‘edide e joko’ directive.

The elder statesman, who made this known through his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, in a statement, noted that the position, respect, protocol, and dignity that must be given to the office of a governor by virtue of the constitution must not be denied, stressing that to do otherwise is to deride the office and the constitution.

Obasanjo also denied Ms Taiwo Martins, the mother of two of his children – Jonwo and Bunmi, and whom he accused of posturing as his wife.

He described her as an impostor, saying nobody makes statements on behalf of his family except himself or people delegated by him to do so, even as he hinted that people should take note of the state of health of Ms Taiwo Martins and ignore her statement of apology purportedly issued by her on behalf of the Obasanjo’s family.

He stated: “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’s family.

“Her posturing as Chief Obasanjo’s wife is false and that of an impostor. Nobody makes a 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.” (The Nation)

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