A video showing Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, and Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, greeting former President Olusegun Obasanjo at a recent event has sparked widespread reactions online.
The clip highlights a striking contrast in their gestures toward the 88-year-old ex-president.
THE INCIDENT
The footage shows Obasanjo entering the venue where the traditional rulers were already seated.
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The Ooni of Ife immediately stood up to greet him as Obasanjo bent to shake hands, demonstrating humility and respect.
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By contrast, the Alaafin of Oyo remained seated, allowing Obasanjo to bend and greet him while he stayed in place.
This difference has generated significant online debate about respect, tradition, and protocol among Nigeria’s monarchs.
CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING ALAFIN OF OYO
Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, who lived in Canada before ascending the throne, has recently made headlines for being snubbed or ignored at various public events:
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The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, refused a handshake from him at an interfaith event.
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Ondo State Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa also reportedly avoided greeting him while acknowledging others.
Some netizens interpreted the Alaafin’s actions as an overemphasis on authority, while others suggested it may reflect palace customs or taboos linked to the throne.
NETIZENS REACT
Social media users reacted sharply to the video:
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@kingsleyetonihu: “The Ooni’s humility and sense of humor needs to be studied at PhD level. God bless him.”
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@demo_sassy: “Alaafin is just an idiot.”
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@adekola5475: “But Alaafin could stand for Mrs Remi Tinubu in Ibadan and cannot stand to greet Baba Obasanjo. Hmmmm.”
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@johnsonbabyoil9: “Bibire o se fowora, just look at Ooni how he quickly stood up to greet Obasanjo, but our brother sat down. Respect is reciprocal.”
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@olawalemisty: “Being a leader doesn’t mean being above everyone; it means lifting others up. Your humility will earn more respect than any show of pride.”
A BROADER DEBATE
The contrasting gestures have reignited discussions about tradition versus personal conduct:
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Supporters of Ooni of Ife praised his sensitivity to age and status.
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Defenders of the Alaafin argued his actions may be guided by palace protocols or throne customs.
The incident illustrates how even simple gestures in public carry deep cultural significance and influence public perception of Nigeria’s traditional rulers.
