Rashidi Ladoja, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, says he did not deliberately snub a handshake with Abimbola Owoade, the Alaafin of Oyo, during a public event in Ibadan.
On Monday, both monarchs attended the 2026 interfaith gathering held at the Grand Space, near the Oyo State House of Assembly.
A video from the event, which later went viral, showed the Olubadan approaching his seat beside the Alaafin, who was already seated.
As Ladoja neared, Owoade extended his hand for a handshake, which the Olubadan ignored, prompting the Alaafin to withdraw his hand.
The incident reignited historical tensions over status and supremacy between the two foremost Yoruba traditional stools.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Ladoja said his conduct at the event was dictated by protocol and circumstance rather than personal sentiment.
The monarch said online reactions wrongly portrayed a moment at the public function in Ibadan as disrespectful, insisting the narrative was exaggerated by social media.
“There was no intention whatsoever. What happened was not deliberate. Social media has simply twisted the situation,” the Olubadan said.
“When you arrive late at a mosque, you don’t walk around greeting people while prayers are ongoing. You wait and join properly. That was exactly what I was trying to do.”
The Olubadan added that movement was restricted by the seating layout, noting that his position was between two monarchs.
“My seat was sandwiched between the Soun and the Alaafin. I had to pass through people. I didn’t decide to avoid or ignore anyone. Why would I?” he asked.
“If you watch the complete video, you’ll see me greeting people. But social media only picked what suited a certain narrative.”
Addressing suggestions of private reconciliation, the Olubadan said he did not regard the incident as offensive.
“I don’t think anyone was offended, and I don’t see it as an insult to anybody,” he stated.
“My focus is unity for this generation and the next. We must raise standards, especially in education, and concentrate on what truly drives progress.”
The Ibadan traditional leaders had earlier condemned the Alaafin’s gesture, describing it as disrespectful to the Olubadan and the Ibadan institution.