featured hero News Oduduwa

Oba Akiolu Explains Controversial Guesture to Ooni

Oba Akiolu Explains Controversial Guesture to Ooni
  • PublishedApril 28, 2017

Says ‘Snubbing’ is the traditional way of greeting for Lagos Monarchs

The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, has explained his side of the controversial viral video which has been widely interpreted  as the Oba making a rude guesture to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, at a public function in Lagos.

According to one of the white cap chiefs of Lagos, Lateef Aderibigbe Ajose, who is the Opeluwa Onido of Lagos, Oba Akiolu’s gesture to the Ooni was the culturally acclaimed way of greeting a monarch in Lagos.

Ajose said Oba Akiolu’s response to Oba Ogunwusi 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 stated: “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.

“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. He said: “There is no sentiment in the culture of Lagos. 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. There is no quarrel between the Oba of Lagos and Ooni of Ife.

3 Comments

  • This is a lie can anyone confirm the last King of Lagos who has used this way of greeting in the past. This Oba will not great Awujale like that or Tinubu .In Yorubaland Ooni is the most superior why would any king go to that level of rudeness to a whole Ooni?

  • I am a fair minded person but other chiefs to dispute the action on behalf of the State. “A Ki Oba ni ibere ati a ki oba ninaro” Let us hear from monarchs or could be sensilization of Journalism ” Fake News”

  • The absurd behaviour of Oba Akiolu has never been seen before. It’s completely untrue, misguided notion that Lagos tradition supports ruling Obas to shun other traditional rulers when being greeted. This Oba made it up and this supposedly forgotten absurd tradition will never transcend beyond him.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *