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Timi of Ede Responds to Criticism Over Kneeling to Greet Emir of Ilorin

Published by Tope Fakinlede on January 14th, 2025.

Timi of Ede Responds to Criticism Over Kneeling to Greet Emir of Ilorin

The Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Lawal, has sparked widespread debate after a video showing him kneeling to greet the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Sulu Gambari, went viral. The incident, which occurred at a social event, has drawn a mix of reactions from social media users.

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In the video, Oba Lawal, wearing a white lace attire, enters a hall with a woman and approaches the Emir, who was seated with others. Upon greeting the Emir, Lawal is seen bending down and kneeling beside him as they briefly exchange words. This gesture quickly prompted criticism from online commentators, some of whom felt it was disrespectful to Yoruba customs.

One Facebook user, Lasun Oyekanmi, expressed his disappointment, saying, “A whole Timi Agbale… Who did this to the Yoruba race?” Another user, Timothy Adesanya, referred to the act as “a catastrophe— a major disaster to our culture.” A third user, Fadipe Sanya, also condemned the gesture, calling it “sad.”

However, Oba Lawal’s media assistant, Tijani Adekilekun, has defended the monarch’s actions, explaining that the gesture was misunderstood. In a statement released in Osogbo, Adekilekun clarified that the event took place at a wedding in Ilorin, where Oba Lawal had bent down to greet the Emir due to the latter’s possible age or health condition, which prevented him from standing. Adekilekun also pointed out that the Emir did not stand to greet any of the other guests, emphasizing that Oba Lawal’s action was out of respect and a practical necessity for clear communication.

Adekilekun further urged the public to stop ridiculing the Timi of Ede’s revered stool, urging restraint in commenting on the matter. He reiterated that both the Nigerian Constitution and Yoruba traditions set boundaries for how individuals should express opinions about others, particularly when it involves respected figures like the Timi of Ede.

“The Timi Agbale Olofana’s stool cannot be subjected to ridicule, regardless of the status of online commentators,” Adekilekun concluded.