The Nigerian social media space on Thursday exploded with reactions trailing a viral video of a former governor of Lagos State Asiwaju Bola Tinubu sitting to greet the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi at the Oniru’s coronation in Lagos.
Bola Tinubu refuses to stand up and greet the Ooni of Ife pic.twitter.com/CYCse9ttAw
Advertisement— Mandy News (@MandyNews_) September 10, 2020
It is believed that men and women irrespective of class must rise to greet the Ooni (being one of the most powerful monarchs in the South West). It is also compulsory that visiting subjects must prostrate to greet the Ooni in his palace.
That the Asiwaju of Bourdillon refused to stand up to greet the Ooni of Ife speaks volumes.This was not only deeply insulting to every Ife & indeed son & daughter of Odua but it is also a crying shame. Would a northern pol. leader refuse to stand up for his traditional ruler?
— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) September 10, 2020
However, in the picture and video which has now gone viral, Tinubu was seen sitting down exchanging pleasantries with the Ooni.
Reacting, Femi Fani-Kayode said it is ”deeply insulting” for a Yoruba political leader not to rise to greet a Yoruba traditional ruler.
He wrote on his twitter; ”that the Asiwaju of Bourdillon refused to stand up to greet the Ooni of Ife speaks volumes. This was not only deeply insulting to every Ife & indeed son & daughter of Odua but it is also a crying shame.
” Would a northern pol. (political) leader refuse to stand up for his traditional ruler? he asked.
Obasanjo never stand and seat to greet any Yoruba king go and ask OK. Our love for tinubu should not blind us from saying the truth pic.twitter.com/UlidyEZDA9
— Acting_Bigman (@obameso007) September 10, 2020
https://twitter.com/TheReal_Hafeez/status/1303960278082691072?s=20
https://twitter.com/onyiforlife/status/1303964796048596992?s=20
