The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, has declared that there is no rift or ill feeling whatsoever between him and the Alaafin of Oyo or any other traditional ruler.
This is as Oba Ladoja particularly expressed displeasure over what he described as ‘selective editing of video clips’ circulating online, saying the full footage would clearly show him exchanging greetings with several dignitaries at the event.
The royal father who stated these while speaking with journalists in Ibadan over his alleged shunning of the Alaafin of Oyo at a recent ceremony, said that the clarification became necessary to make the right-thinking members of the public have a better understanding of the incident, emphasising that clarifications have since been made to all concerned parties.
Oba Ladoja pointedly dismissed reports that he intentionally snubbed the Alaafin of Oyo during a recent public event, saying that the claim was a clear misunderstanding blown out of proportion.
He explained that the controversy created by a viral video clip that appeared to show a breach of royal protocol was no act of disrespect, stressing that circumstances beyond his control shaped how events unfolded.
In the words of Oba Ladoja; “I arrived at the venue slightly behind schedule and was advised by protocol officers to proceed quietly to my seat to avoid disrupting the programme already in progress”.
The royal father further said that his assigned seat was located between different sections of the venue which required him to move around briefly.
The Olubadan also said that by the time he settled in, some dignitaries had already changed their seating positions and thereby created the impression that he had deliberately avoided certain individuals.
The clarification by the royal father comes amid ongoing public debate over royal protocol in Oyo State, with many calling for caution in interpreting viral content while others canvassed continued respect for traditional institutions, which remain vital to unity and social harmony in the state.
