A recent video showing Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, presenting a gift directly to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, during an official event in Itesiwaju Local Government Area has ignited a flurry of reactions online, with many Nigerians questioning the cultural appropriateness of the moment.
The footage, which surfaced online shortly after the governor on Tuesday August 5 commissioned the reconstruction of a 23-kilometre road linking Okaka, Igbojaye, and the Kunle Afolayan Productions Film Village in Komu, captured Makinde extending a ceremonial item to the monarch.
In a surprising twist, the Alaafin stepped forward to personally receive the gift — a gesture that has divided public opinion.
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While some applauded the mutual respect demonstrated between the two prominent Yoruba figures, others, particularly those steeped in Yoruba royal traditions, expressed strong disapproval.
Critics argue that it is culturally inappropriate for a revered traditional ruler of the Alaafin’s status to accept a gift directly in public, especially from a political figure, no matter how senior. They insist that the king’s aides, chiefs, or palace officials should have received the item on his behalf, maintaining the age-old protocols of Yoruba monarchy.
Others, however, defended the Alaafin’s actions, interpreting the moment as one of unity and modern-day diplomacy. Supporters noted that traditional rulers are also evolving with the times and that the monarch’s decision to step forward was likely driven by respect for Governor Makinde’s developmental strides in the region.
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The moment has sparked a wider cultural conversation about the boundaries between tradition and modernization, especially in the context of public governance and royal protocols.
As the debate continues, the video remains a trending topic across social media, highlighting the deep-rooted cultural pride and sensitivity that defines interactions between political leaders and traditional institutions in Nigeria.
