'For Money, Obas Will Prostrate for Councillors': Sowore Explains Why He Refuses to Bow Before Traditional Rulers, Calls Out Double Standards

Activist cites selective deference to power, claims monarchs stand for Seyi Tinubu while demanding submission from ordinary citizens

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has reignited debate over traditional authority and modern citizenship, explaining why he refuses to prostrate before Yoruba monarchs and questioning what he calls the selective application of cultural protocols.

Speaking at a public event in a video shared by Sahara TV, Sowore recounted an encounter at the palace of the Olofa of Offa in Kwara State, where a palace aide instructed him to prostrate according to Yoruba tradition. He said he politely declined, making clear that his refusal stemmed from principle rather than disrespect .

'Respect Should Be Mutual'

Sowore explained that he rejects gestures that, in his view, reinforce hierarchy or suggest inferiority. He maintained that respect should be reciprocal and not demanded in ways that diminish personal dignity .

The activist pointed to what he described as glaring inconsistencies in how traditional rulers extend deference. He noted that monarchs often receive high-ranking politicians—including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former President Muhammadu Buhari—with visible enthusiasm, sometimes standing to greet them .

"If they meet Seyi Tinubu, all these Obas will stand up for him," Sowore asserted, referring to the president's son. He contrasted this with expectations placed on ordinary citizens, who are frequently required to demonstrate traditional forms of submission regardless of context .

'For Money, Obas Will Prostrate for Councillors'

Sowore's most pointed critique targeted what he sees as the commercialization of traditional authority. "For money, Obas will prostrate for councillors," he claimed, suggesting that financial considerations often override cultural protocols when the politically connected or wealthy are involved .

The activist argued that cultural practices should not be applied selectively or in ways that appear to favor the politically powerful. He questioned whether ordinary citizens should be expected to prostrate when elites are exempt from similar expectations .

Context of Influence

Sowore's remarks arrive amid ongoing public scrutiny of Seyi Tinubu's public role and the deference he receives. In January 2026, the Alaafin of Oyo conferred the prestigious chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on Seyi Tinubu at a ceremony attended by top government officials and traditional rulers . The installation followed a previous controversy over similar titles and sparked renewed conversation about the intersection of political power and traditional authority.

Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka recently criticized what he described as Seyi Tinubu's "overbearing security escort," noting that the number of operatives attached to him was enough "to stage a coup in any Nigerian state" . Political analyst Professor Kamilu Sani Fage of Bayero University, Kano, observed that many northerners are "unhappy with how Seyi interacts with our revered traditional rulers," noting that "he shakes hands with them in their palaces, unlike the deference he shows to Chiefs and Obas from his region" .

Previous Palace Encounters

This is not the first time Sowore has spoken about tensions with traditional institutions. In a separate video, he recalled being kept waiting for three hours at the palace of the Ooni of Ife. When the monarch finally emerged and Sowore was instructed to prostrate, he reportedly took a microphone and questioned why he should bow after such a lengthy delay .

Mixed Reactions

The comments have generated divided responses across social and political circles. Supporters argue that Sowore's position reflects a necessary conversation about modern citizenship, equality, and the evolving role of traditional institutions in a democratic society. They contend that respect should be earned and reciprocal rather than demanded through customs that reinforce hierarchy .

Critics, however, view his stance as a rejection of cherished cultural heritage. Traditionalists argue that prostration is not about inferiority but about honoring institutions that predate modern governance structures.

Sowore concluded by framing his position within broader principles developed during his years in student activism: respect for human dignity and resistance to what he views as performative submission. "So you want me to prostrate because you think I'm inferior to the others," he said. "For money, Obas will prostrate for councillors" .