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By Temitope Oyetomi (Gentle Topman)
Plus, times Minus is equal to minus. + x – = -OBJ delivered a right massage (+) in a wrong manner (-). So, we will multiply + by –, which is -.
The fact is, there is State Protocol. State Protocol requires that when the Number 1 citizen of the State makes an entry, all present would rise in respect for him. As far as Oyo State is concerned, the Governor of Oyo State is the Number 1 citizen. But If the Head of State Tinubu was visiting, he would take precedence above the Governor and all present would rise for him.
Former President Obasanjo overreacted. It was not his place to either educate or correct the Obas per State Protocol.
He should have stomached his observations and shared his concerns with the Governor who would have gotten the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs to communicate to the Obas about State protocol.
On the hand, there are Royal Protocols just as much as there are State Protocols. For example, I remember asking an Oba if we could organise something for his birthday. He told me he is restricted from observing his own birthday. He said he never marks his birthday. Many Obas forbid attending funerals. Many Obas forbid meeting their mothers.
I don’t buy into the idea of using Obas as “stool dressers” at State events. It’s not every event an Oba should attend. We have seen many events in which palace staff would attend bearing the Oba’s Staff of Office without the physical presence of the Oba either because the king forbids physically attending such events or because he is willing to attend but unavoidably absent.
Overall, the Obas and the State should meet behind closed doors and exchange notes on State and Royal Protocols.
However, the act of publicly lambasting Obas for breaching State Protocols is quite distasteful – I might say, unbecoming.
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