There is a dangerous confusion in our public space—the lazy belief that every extended hand deserves acceptance.
It is a confusion born of fear, superstition, and performative morality.
But wisdom says otherwise.
“Ọwọ́ tí a kò mọ́, kì í bọ́ mọ́ni lójú.”
(A hand whose intent you do not know must not touch your face.)
Oba Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja, the Olubadan of Ibadan did not refuse a handshake.
He refused contamination.
He is a wise king, and a wise king knows that intent travels faster than courtesy.
He is not a hypocrite who will harbour blood and throw up white spittle
He is not a pretender
He hates hypocrisy
He knows that
That some greetings are not gestures of peace but invitations to spiritual negotiation.
“Kì í ṣe gbogbo ẹ̀rín ni ayọ̀ ń bẹ nínú rẹ̀.”
(Not every smile carries joy.)
Oba Ladoja is a noble Oba who understands that a king’s hand is not a common utensil.
It carries authority, legacy, imprint, and consequence.
He will not allow his royal essence
to be placed in a palm
only for it to be wiped away later
with a spiritual handkerchief
after the cameras are gone.
For he knows:
“Ohun tí ọwọ́ bá fi ọwọ́ ṣe, ọkàn ló máa gbà.”
(What the hand agrees to, the soul accepts.)
Ladoja will not allow his aura to be polluted
by a handshake loaded with malice,
ego, bile ,bitterness ,fakery , envy , suspicion
and unresolved crisis.
He will not dirty his hand
shaking a cantankerous soul who harbour dark untent against him
one whose reign traffics more in turbulence than tranquility,
more in drama than dignity.
This is not arrogance.
This is discernment.
This is not disrespect.
This is self-mastery.
“Ọmọ ọlọ́gbọ́n kì í fi ara rẹ̀ sínú ìjà tí kò ṣe é yọrí sí.”
(A wise person does not enter a conflict with no noble end.)
Ladoja is noble.
Ladoja is sensible.
Ladoja is an Oba of impeccable integrity—
one who knows that silence can be cleaner than greetings,
and restraint more royal than reflex.
In Yoruba philosophy,
the hand is not innocent.
It blesses.
It binds.
It betrays.
That is why the elders warned:
“Ọwọ́ kì í gbé ẹni ga ju ọkàn lọ.”
(The hand must never outrun the conscience.)
So let those who fetishize handshakes keep their panic.
Let those who see curses everywhere continue their trade in fear.
As for Oba Ladoja—
he chose clarity over choreography,
integrity over intimidation,
wisdom over noise.
Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja acted well and perfectly so.
Who ever is not happy should jump into Asejire .
E Pele oo
E ku apero.
…..