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| OONI OF IFE |
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| OBA OF LAGOS |
The two are known as 1st class kings of repute, especially as the stool they represent are highly revered. The Ooni, being the Obaluaye of Ife is respected as the overall king of kings in the South Western part of Nigeria, he is so well respected that other kings from the South West accord him the 1st position in their hierarchy, this is by virtue of history and the importance accorded to the stool he occupies.
The Oba of Lagos, also referred to as the Olowo Eko (the rich one of Lagos) also occupies a note worthy stool too. By virtue of him being the paramount ruler amongst the kings in the state alone, that stands him out.
Whilst the Ooni Adimula stool is occupied by a former businessman in the person of Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who is in his 40s, kabiyesi the Oba of Lagos, is a retired AIG of Police, in the person of Oba Riliwan Akiolu, known for his no nonsense attitude and approach,.....who says and acts it, as he sees it and he is not known for comprise all.
So at an occasion yesterday, where Oba Rilwan Babatunde Akiolu and the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnanyelugo Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe were already seated. In comes, the Ooni, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. Normally because of who he is and being the paramount ruler of the Yorubas, his entrance is always heralded by much razzmattaz and dazzling display of praise and colours which always adds pomp to his entrance. This well practised, choreographed entry ritual could and might intimidate others who normally do not have such displays often; coming in the Ooni did what was considered right, as he went to acknowledge the other royal fathers already seated, only for the Oba of Lagos, to totally dismiss the highly revered Ooni with a wave of the hand, like a nobody!
Shock, embarrassment and shame all fought and jostled for attention immediately. And this was played out in public! What could have warranted such open display of disdain? Could the Oba of Lagos have felt that he was upstaged or what? Was there already a lingering tussle of any kind between the 2 before? Or could it have been that the Oba of Lagos, feels that the kind of prominence enjoyed by the Ooni, and the respect from around the world since he rose to the throne, from all over the seems too much? Has there been an encounter before that warranted such a display?
Even if there was any at all, that they both are prominent royal fathers of note, couldn't the more elderly Oba of Lagos in his 60s have dealt with it with more decorum and in private?
The questions above and many others are the types that have since sprung up since the unroyal and unpalatable actions of Oba of Lagos. Many already feels that it's an open display of the desecration of a highly revered throne and crown.
One hopes that the elders in the land, would quickly come together to resolve the issues before they escalate further.
