The Osun State Government has asked members of the public to disregard a trending video purporting that the Osun state Governor, Ademola Adeleke, ignored the Ooni of Ife, HRM Oba Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, when the monarch streched forward his hand to greet him.
A clip showing the Governor, appearing to brush off the extended hand of the Ooni of Ife, while enthusiastically shaking hands with other dignitaries has been trending online.
The governor and the monarch attended a ceremony in Ondo State. The Governor was seen greeting dignitaries seated on the high table at the occasion and the Ooni stood up with his right hand extended for a handshake, but the governor appears to by-pass the hand to greet other dignitaries. The video clip then ended.
The footage has elicited various reactions from social media users, with many condemning the action.
However, another clip of the governor and Ooni shaking hands and conversing at the same event has since been posted by those at the occasion to dispel the rumour
Reacting in statement on Wednesday, Nov 15, 2023, Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, described it as a doctored video being circulated on social media by agents of the opposition and fake news peddlers.
According to him, Governor Ademola Adeleke and Ooni of Ife, HRM Oba Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II enjoy the best of relations as evident by the cordial exchange of pleasantries at the Palace of Osemawe of Ondo at the coronation of Senator Olubiyi Ajagunla.
“We are by this medium appealing to members of the public to disregard the doctored video in its entirety while we have uploaded the original videos for public consumption.
The original video showing the governor and Ooni shaking hands and conversing at the same event has since been posted by socialite, Dele Momodu and others at the occasion to dispel the rumour.