SNUB SAGA: OBA AKIOLU ADVICE TO TENDER APOLOGY,STOP FLIMSY EXCUSE
The Traditional Ruler of Lagos,Oba Rilwan Akiolu has been advised to tender apology to Ooni of Ife,Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and the entire Yoruba race for debasing the status of the first class traditional institution.
It would be recalled that, the Lagos monarch had at a public function snubbed Ooni of Ife, when he attempted to greet him, a development which has continued to receive condemnation in all quarters.
However,48 hours after the incident which was followed with public reactions,the Lagos monarch through one of his white cap chiefs issued a statement to deny the allegation.
The palace said, the ‘snub’ greeting was a cultural way the Lagos monarchs greets,arguing that Oba Rilwan Akiolu was trying to revive the ancient culture.
But reacting to the incident and latest explanation of the monarch, scores of participants on penpushing, a social media network platform said Akiolu statement was belated and baseless.
The contributing participants said, Akiolu should have kept quite, and let the issue died a natural death,rather than issue a baseless and weightless statement,stressing that,it would have been honourable for the Lagos monarch to apologise and let the case closed.
In his own reaction on the platform,Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji wrote,’I think Oba Akiolu explanation is a belated face saving method which is baseless. It is better described as ‘Ogboju’ way of doing things,as it is known to Lagosians. How can you say,that is cultural way Lagos monarch(s) greet,or trying to revive a ‘bad culture’,which I doubt if such culture and tradition ever exist before now’
Also reacting Demola Ekundayo said Akiolu explanation was an afterthought, and cannot control the damage his action is causing him.
‘Very sure it is due to general condemnation of the ‘un’royal behaviour (as always) that necessitated this belated explanation. Even the ‘Evil Genius’ himself took an exception to it’,he wrote.
The publisher of Gatewaymail, a Canada based online medium, Chief Femi Shodunke was not left out in reacting,alleging the Lagos monarch of disrespecting the stool of Ooni
‘Sincerely speaking, I thought “Eko for show” goes beyond ordinary show off? I assumed probably wrongly because I’m of the belief that the “show” includes “excellence” as these “Omo Ekos” often brag about!’,he wrote.
Shodunke,who is a traditional chief( Baaroyin of Igbeinland and Baaroyin of Agbonland), said the palace press statement was watery,and making nonsense from the already nonsense
‘Bu matter-of-fact, there’s no EXCELLENCE in the reaction (defence or face saving) from the palace of Oba of Lagos Rilwan Akiolu on his “disrespect”, “disgrace”, “arrogance” etc (fill in your appropriate word) to Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi’.
‘As a journalist and Public Relations person, such defence is “too watery” and indeed it does not ONLY lacked reasonable substance, but it also made nonsense of the already nonsense over the whole nonsensical scenario.Or, probably the said “press release” is a fake ONE from the online abracadabra?’
‘Perhaps, it’s even better to keep quiet (not to react) if excellent press reaction cannot come from excellent people of the excellent palace over their royal father’s infraction against Ooni Ogunwusi!’,Shodunke,a veteran journalist wrote
Another notable and proactive member of the platform,Ola Animasaun,said the Lagos palace should tell such explanation to the marines,stressing that Akiolu had goofed, ‘What a damage control !!. Please tell that to the Marines’
Similarly, Adesina Adekanmbi wrote, ‘Tell that to the birds, we are no longer in the dark age, sorry that story is unacceptable, say something else meaningful’,while Seye Kehinde,publisher of City People Magazine also reacted thus, ‘The explanation the Eleko of Eko gave yesterday is what my late dad calls FABU iro nla’
In his own reaaction,Engr Titus Olowookere,wrote, ‘absolutely an afterthought and flimsy excuse. Maybe the penpushers can dig further to ascertain if there’s any precedence, where waving off a guest by the Oba of Lagos denotes inu mi inu e. Pics, records or videos of such precedence should be exhumed , if any. I doubt it’.
Also Soji Ganzallo reacted thus, ‘So we are too young to know how Oba Oyekan exchanged pleasantries with fellow Obas during his life time. What is Oba Akiolu really teaching us?’
In the same vein, Seun Abati in his own view said, ‘was that the first time Oba Akiolu would be exchanging pleasantries with another Oba at a public function? Besides, action speaks louder than… There’s a big difference between shunning someone, avoiding somebody and giving a salutation. By that act, Oba Akiolu is culpable of cultural offence and should therefore do the needful to safe our cultural heritage’.
In her own submission,Funke Fadugba wrote,’Enu o puro ki se eje. The king is being economical with the truth.
Which tradition is he reviving? Is the Onirisa a pupil to be taught Lagos tradition of dismissing people deserving of respect? The Eleko should as a way of redeeming a bad situation send emissaries to Ife. Culture is passed from one generation to the other as such it is unbecoming for a symbol of that culture to want to bestow a mean culture to the young ones’.
