By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The viral video of a lady who was stopped by a protocol officer from shaking hands with the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, at a conference has generated a buzz among Nigerians on social media.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, January 6, at the Lens for Good Storytellers’ Conference, where the traditional ruler was invited as a keynote speaker alongside the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The video showed where the yet-to-be-identified lady tried to initiate a handshake with the Olu of Warri but was stopped by the protocol officer.
The video led to divergent opinions by Nigerians on social media as they argued whether the action by the protocol officer was necessitated by the need for cultural respect or the outcome of patriarchy.
Those who argued in favour of the action cited the African and Iteskiri custom where subjects avoid initiating contact with royals, and women kneel in reverence.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), @Dr_Pharouk wrote, “I feel it’s a position that made her feel she could stretch her hand to shake a king. So if it’s a governor or president, that’s how she would stretch her hand to greet them. On what basis? I’m glad they corrected her professionally. In situations where you meet someone higher than you, wait for them to stretch their hand first before you try to shake them.”
@Mrfizzy_10 said, “This our generation doesn’t know culture at all. Why would you want to hand-shake a first-grade king, “the Olu of Warri.” I like how she corrected herself though.”
Another X user, @lionhead_king, added, “A clear show that Africans don’t know who they are and have lost every ounce of ancestral knowledge and culture. Wanting to shake a king, are you mad? I am not even from that part of Nigeria, but it doesn’t make sense.”
@Lord_Of_Warri wrote, “She was just excited to see the king of Warri; not everyone knows culture.”
@MCARIZONA5 tweeted, “It’s not even about the king or anybody. It’s not normal for a woman to shake a man in Africa. Now she will learn and do better.”
Also, @Theopulenceman added, “If this were medieval times, that simple handshake she attempted could have cost her her life. She might have been beheaded or had her hands chopped off. We’re glad for the growth of humanity.”
However, others criticised the action as sexist, especially as the monarch was later seen standing up to shake hands with Sanwo-Olu.
In a tweet, @Usmanashafe said, “Wait oo, I thought Olu of Warri doesn’t shake anybody at all. He even stood up to shake Sanwo-Olu here. Selective handshake or what? Me I like Sanwo sha; he get swags.”
@ObiNnaemeka wrote, “This nonsense mentality of “power” and “levels” is why your government will always treat you like peasants. We always have an excuse to justify stupidity. The governor is simply a citizen elected to office and nothing makes him so special compared to the other lady.”
@olamikaye added, “Make them block Governor too nah, or is it because of gender? It’s all good though.”
