An interesting drama played out between the Ooni of Ife and Oba Akiolu of Lagos, On Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at the 22nd World Congress of Banking Institutes event, held at the Eko Hotels and Towers in Lagos, southwest Nigeria, to the surprise of everyone present.
Mad House Naija reliably gathered that Ooni arrived late to the event. His chair was placed on the right side of Obi Nnameka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, while Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos was already seated to the left of the Obi. As the Ooni approached the hall, where the two kings and other guests were already seated, the Ooni’s “Emese” (traditional aids) rushed into the hall, as it is their duty to clean the seat reserved for the Ooni with their dresses.
That done, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, strolled into the hall. But before taking his seat, he walked straight to where the Obi of Onitsha and Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos were already seated.
He shook hands with and exchanged pleasantries with the Obi, after which he immediately moved towards Oba Akiolu to greet him, as he extended his right hand for a handshake, before returning to take his seat. To the surprise of everyone, however, Oba Akiolu coldly waved the Ooni off, as he refused to shake hands with him.
The ugly development it was gathered, seems to lend credence to long speculations that all is not well among Yoruba Obas.
When Palace to speak on the matter, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebu land for his comments on the matter, the Kabiyesi said: “Although it will not be nice for me to comment on whatever disagreement there is between the Ooni of Ife and Oba Akiolu of Lagos, it will be right and proper for the Ooni to moderate the large entourage he moves about with. The Ooni could handle his culture the way he likes in his own domain. There is, therefore, no need for him to go about disturbing the peace of other people with the very large entourage he takes around.”
Oba Adetona, however, called for caution, saying: “There is absolutely no need for the present rivalry among Yoruba Obas, as this attitude will not help us. As we speak today, the Olugbo of Ugbo land will not return to Ile-Ife to rule the Ife people. The Ooni, on his part, will not go to Ugbo land to try to rule the Ugbo people. Awujale will not go to Egba to colonise them, just like the Alake will not come to Ijebu here. Every Oba has his own domain, so why all this wahala? We all know our fathers. It is absolutely not necessary what we the South West Obas are doing to themselves.”
