‘He Dare Not Try It With Alaafin, Oba Of Benin’ –Tinubu Under Fire For Not Standing To Greet Ooni Of Ife

• It’s a crying shame, says Fani-Kayode

From Europe to Middle East, the traditional stool is a highly revered and scared position, one that is treated with deference.

This deference to monarchs is also an ingrained Nigeria culture and consciousness of Nigerians. No matter how highly placed a person his, he is expected to bow before the king.

The action of a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, at the coronation of Oniru of has ruffled feather to no end.

A video of the former Lagos state government sitting while other dignitaries at the event stood up to greet Ooni of Ife has generated divergent views, especially on social media.

Many accused the APC stalwart of treating the Ooni with condescension. They said his actions amount to the desecration of the sacred traditional institution.

Some averred that the behaviour of Tinubu is not out of place, insinuating that the monarch could not have ascended throne without the help and support of Tinubu.

Also Read: Tinubu Should’ve Stood Up To Receive The Ooni, Says Afenifere Spokesman

Others believed that Tinubu actions undermined the authority of the first class monarch, adding that such will give others the leeway to ridicule Yoruba culture.

Former minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, also took a swipe at Tinubu, saying his actions are not only denigrating but shameful. He wondered if a politician of northern extraction would have treated his traditional ruler with such scorn.

He said “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?”