By OLATUNDE OLADUNJOYE
Small drama ensued today as I accompanied Governor Dapo Abiodun to the Cathedral of St. Peters Ake, for the Church Service marking the new Legal Year in Ogun State.
Incidentally the scene was well captured by one of the Governor’s photographers. Please fear photographers o! I didn’t send him work at all!!
As a practice, I don’t shake hands with Obas. Our Obas are very enlightened but I don’t feel comfortable shaking hands with an Oba. I can’t imagine myself shaking hands with Kabiyesi Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, when the hand does not want to fall!
I can’t imagine myself shaking hands with Kabiyesi Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, when the hand does not want to fall!
So, today at the service, I temporarily left my seat to go and greet the representative of Kabiyesi Awujale, Oba Dagburewe of Idowa. Kabiyesi stretched out his hand towards me but I dodged it using my left hand to tightly cover my right hand as shown in picture 1. Kabiyesi understood and tapped me on my forearm as I bowed down in courtesy.
But getting to my Kabiyesi Akija of Ikija Ijebu (I am the Aremo Akija), Kabiyesi Ebumawe of Ago Iwoye who sat beside him, was the first to stretch out his hand but I most humbly declined (picture 2); but Kabiyesi Akija who knew that is my usual practice in obeisance, grabbed my hand and said I must shake him today or else I will not leave. I resisted but Kabiyesi did not leave my hand. He asked me not to worry but to shake his royal hand, as seen in picture 3 (Akija in white atire).
READ ALSO: EXTRA: Amala: The good, the bad and the downright fake
I had no choice but to obey and take the privilege. Immediately I did that, Kabiyesi Ebumawe protested saying “se wo ri, wo gbowo nowo bare” (you see, you shook hands with your father – picture 4,) he then again stretched his royal hands to me and this time, I had no option than to take it (picture 5).
I had no choice but to obey and take the privilege. Immediately I did that, Kabiyesi Ebumawe protested saying “se wo ri, wo gbowo nowo bare”
I feel very privileged and exceptionally lucky for the kind of love, regard and honour that the low and mighty continue to show me.
Ekalaye o! Alayeluwa!!
