The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, has responded to the social media backlash over a video making the rounds in the social media that is being misconstrued as his snubbing the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, at a public function in Lagos.
Rather, Oba Akiolu said his gesture to the Ooni of Ife was the culturally acclaimed way of greeting a monarch in Lagos.
A 25-second video went viral on Wednesday, April 26, 2017 showing the monarch dismissing the younger monarch at at the World Conference of Banking Institutes hosted by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) recently.
The position of Oba Akiolu was stated by one of the white cap chiefs of Lagos, Lateef Aderibigbe Ajose, who is the Opeluwa Onido of Lagos.
Ajose said the Lagos monarch did not ignore Ooni of Ife at the public function as being misconceived by people.
He said Oba Akiolu’s response to Oba Ogunwusi was the culturally acclaimed way of greeting by a monarch in Lagos.
He added that the Lagos King is basically trying to revive the culture and tradition of ancient Lagos, which is peculiar to the State.
Other tribes also have their peculiar ways of greeting, he said.
Ajose is quoted as saying, “The sign by Oba Akiolu signifies ‘inu mi, inu e’, the culture of greeting in Lagos. “If Oba Akiolu wanted to ignore, he would have turned his face away from Ooni.”
“There is no misunderstanding between both highly revered monarchs in Yorubaland.”
According to Ajose, the relationship between both Yoruba kings is peaceful and mutual.
He said: “Oba Akiolu was well represented at the coronation of Ooni of Ife, which attested to the fact that he does not disregard the office of Ooni Adeyeye.”
Chief Ajose said Oba Akiolu had waited till this time to react to the issue because he had to meet with other chiefs in the palace to rub minds before addressing the public on the matter.
“There is no sentiment in the culture of Lagos,” he said.
“As we met it, that is the way we are doing it.
“Kabiyesi Oba Akiolu is trying to bring back the old pattern, the old culture we have left behind.
“What happened that day was wrongly speculated by the social media to disrupt peace and order and misinterpret Oba Akiolu’s action.
“We just want to appeal to the social media to stop spreading wrong information.
“They should try and understand the reason behind every action carried out, most especially by traditional rulers.
“Yoruba has a very rich culture.”
An analyst had suggested that the monarch is visually impaired due to a 21-year-old battle with glaucoma. He argued, in a piece on Sabi News, that the Oba of Lagos was actually blind and did not know he was being greeted by the Ooni of Ife.
