Mixed Reactions as Obasanjo "Orders" Nigerian Governor in Trending Video

• Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president of Nigeria, has got Nigerians talking as he humorously asked Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun state to go and take his seat
• The former president was seen in a viral video addressing the governor in Yoruba, stating that the governor would be fined for arriving late to the event
• While the governor and others in the video laughed about the situation, some Nigerians took to the comment section to share their views on the clip

Former president Olusegun Obasanjo caused a stir on social media after he jokingly ordered Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun to go and take his seat after coming late to an event.

In a viral video, the former president was delivering a speech when the Osun governor entered the venue. As the governor attempted to prostrate before Obasanjo, he directed him to simply proceed and find his seat.

Speaking in Yoruba, the former president joked that he would ask the governor to pay a fine for coming late to the event and ordered him to go take his seat.

The viral video has gotten some Nigerians talking about the moment. Below are some of their comments:

Fola Gideon tweeted:

"'You will pay a fine (for coming late), just go and sit down.' That's what he said.

Royal commented:

"There was nothing like “or” in what he said. What he said was “ you’ll definitely pay Fine (as in he will pay for being late), go and sit down”

Tolashe explained:

You interpreted it wrong, he told him he will pay a fine (maybe cos he came late), so he should go and sit down, and it’s friendly."

Valentine reacted:

"Be a big man or be in a position. You can come to events at your own time and leave when you get bored."

Dee said:

"This shows that Yoruba people don’t take life seriously.They’re always happy people.U can see Governor Adeleke just laughed it off as a father to son joke cause Obasanjo is probably a father figure to Gov Adeleke. So you people should stop trying to misinterpret what happened."

See the video of the moment here:

Governor Adeleke, who will be contesting for re-election later this year, is well known for his dancing style and humility at public events. In the run-up to the polls, he has faced some political challenges and was recently rumoured to be considering a defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in an effort to improve his chances in the election.

Culture expert explains Obasanjo's “brotherly” gesture

Reacting, cultural anthropologist, Okoye Chukwuebuka, downplayed the controversy surrounding former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s public directive to Governor Ademola Adeleke.

He told Legit.ng that such gestures should not be “considered derogatory” within the African cultural context.

According to him, traditionally, asking someone to sit carries a mark of familiarity, especially in communal gatherings.

“In African culture, village meetings or town hall meetings, brothers ask their kinsmen to take a seat probably when they feel they're crowded by emotions. Since he came late to an event, and Obasanjo asked him to sit, it’s a brotherly conversation,” the anthropologist disclosed.

Former senator dumps Adeleke's camp

Legit.ng earlier reported that the PDP crisis took a new dimension as former Senator Felix Ogunwale from Osun state announced his resignation from the party.

Ogunwale had earlier raised concerns about his relationship with Governor Adeleke when he resigned as the chairman of the Osun State Health Technology Governing Council.

The PDP chieftain's move came at a time when the party leaders are trying to reconcile aggrieved members and name ex-President Bukola Saraki as head of the reconciliation committee.

Editorial assistant Ololade Olatimehin provided exclusive commentary from an anthropologist for this report.

Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng