The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu has reacted to the popular story making rounds that he snubbed the Ooni of Ife at a public function recently. “I am constrained by tradition from receiving and returning the Ooni’s greeting. The widespread belief that I snubbed the Ooni was their own thinking.”

“Anybody can imagine anything. There was nothing. The custom or tradition is like that in Lagos. We don’t hold each other; we don’t hug. The wide age gap between the Ooni and I had nothing to do with the way I acknowledged him. Which age difference? A monarch is a monarch. There is no age difference.”

For those who don’t know, a video which captures Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Aremu Akiolu, publicly snubbing the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi at a public function went viral recently.

The video which lasted for 27 seconds shows the Ooni of Ife arriving the venue of an event, where he exchanged pleasantries with the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe. The Ooni’s attempt to greet Oba Akiolu who was seated next to the Obi of Onitsha was rebuffed by the Lagos monarch who simply waved his hand and ignored the Ooni.

– Culled from Punch