Reactions have continued to trail the action of the former Lagos State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader, Bola Tinubu, over his refusal to stand up to greet the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, at the coronation of the Oniru of Iruland, Oba Omogbolahan Lawal.
The spokesman for pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, in an interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday while reacting to a viral video showing Tinubu sitting down while the Ooni stands to greet him, has berated Tinubu’s actions.
He said although monarchs no longer hold political power, it was important for traditional institutions to be respected especially by the Yoruba people.
The activist recalled that in 2016, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is many years older than the monarch, bowed down to greet him.
Odumakin stated: “We are still Yoruba people. With due respect to our royal fathers, we should not say because we are in a modern age, we should not give the proper respect that we give to our Oba.
“You saw the time former President Obasanjo prostrated before the Ooni. “So, it is still our culture and we must sustain our culture and give the respect that is due to our monarchs.”