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A strange incident occurred in Ibadan on Monday when the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, ignored the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, at the 60th anniversary of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
The incident occurred at the Theophilus Ogunlesi Multipurpose Hall, opposite the University College Hospital (UCH) the venue of a lecture marking the anniversary.
Most Very Important Personalities (VIPs) including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Oba Akiolu had taken their seat on the high table.
The Lagos monarch sat at the left end of the row.
Oba Adetunji came in much later. But as Adetunji walked up the stairs to the high table to join other VIPs from the left side where Akiolu was the first on the row, Oba Akiolu looked away instead of acknowledging and welcoming his Ibadan counterpart at the side where the Ibadan monarch walked up the stairs.
He ignored him completely as Adetunji walked past behind him and was ushered to the extreme right end of the row.
However, Ajimobi, who many people believe is not in good term with the monarch, rose up to welcome the monarch before he walked past him.
Oba Akiolu looked away all through.
By protocol, Akiolu is expected to visit the traditional ruler of the town he is to attend such a big event. If the host monarch is also invited, they may arrive together as a form of unity and love.
Observers said the incident suggested that Akiolu did not visit Adetunji on arriving Ibadan.
It was unclear what may have caused the soft disagreement because Akiolu attended Adetunji’s coronation early 2016.