Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has refuted Madam Taiwo Martins’ apology for forcing some monarchs in Oyo State to honor Governor Seyi Makinde.
While issuing the command to the monarchs at a public event, Obasanjo stated that a governor is more powerful than a king.
Following the development, Madam Taiwo Martins, claiming to be Obasanjo’s wife, made an apology on his behalf.
In response to the apology, Obasanjo disavowed the woman and reiterated that he stands by his remarks.
Obasanjo expressed dissatisfaction on Monday in a statement issued by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, that “one Ms. Taiwo Martins” had prepared a statement pleading for Obas and Yorubas to forgive him as her husband.
While admitting that he and the woman had two children, Obasanjo insisted that she is not his wife and is not a member of his family.
“For the records, Ms. Martins has two children, Jonwo and Bunmi, for Chief Obasanjo but to say emphatically 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.
“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,” the statement said.
The statement added that Obasanjo 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 statement added.
Obasanjo incurred the wrath of many Yoruba people when he ordered the Oyo monarchs to stand up for the governor.