By Promise Dera

Copyright nigerianeye

Social commentator Reno Omokri has publicly criticized former presidential candidate Peter Obi for referring to the newly installed 44th Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, as “my dear brother” in a congratulatory message, sparking a debate over decorum and respect for traditional institutions.

Oba Ladoja, a former governor of Oyo State, was crowned the 44th Olubadan on Friday, September 26, 2025, in a ceremony celebrated across Ibadan.

Following the enthronement, Obi, who served as governor of Anambra State concurrently with Ladoja, took to his social media page to felicitate the new monarch.

In his message, Obi wrote, “I warmly congratulate my dear brother, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, Arusa I, on his installation as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland.

“His ascension to this revered throne is a celebration for the people of Ibadan and a source of pride for the entire Yoruba nation and Nigeria as a whole.”

Obi praised Ladoja’s distinguished career in business, politics, and governance, noting that his enthronement symbolizes the harmony between tradition and modernity.

He expressed confidence that Ladoja’s leadership would continue to foster development and preserve Ibadan’s rich cultural heritage, wishing him a “long, peaceful, and fruitful” reign.

However, Omokri took issue with Obi’s choice of words, specifically the phrase “my dear brother,” deeming it inappropriate for addressing a monarch of such stature.

In a post on his social media handle, Omokri argued that the term undermined the reverence due to the Olubadan, a significant traditional ruler in Yorubaland.

He urged Obi to adopt more formal language when addressing figures of such cultural and historical importance, emphasizing the need to uphold respect for Nigeria’s traditional institutions.

The exchange has ignited discussions online, with some defending Obi’s remarks as a reflection of personal camaraderie from their shared tenure as governors, while others align with Omokri, stressing the importance of protocol in addressing royalty.

Read Omokri’s post below:

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