Prominent Ibadan broadcaster and Agidigbo FM founder Oriyomi Hamzat has doubled down on his criticism of Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, insisting the former Anambra governor’s casual reference to the newly enthroned Olubadan of Ibadanland as “my dear brother” constitutes a blatant affront to Yoruba traditions and Ibadan heritage. In a fiery on-air rebuttal during his “So Kan Wa Special” radio program on Sunday, Hamzat dismissed Obi’s subsequent clarification as insufficient, while carving out exceptions for other politicians like President Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar.
Hamzat, 45, whose station is a powerhouse for Oyo State discourse, didn’t mince words during the broadcast, attended by guests including cultural analysts. “Yoruba people, Ibadan indigenes—Obi has disrespected you. He called Olubadan, a royal head, ‘my friend’ or ‘my brother.’ This diminishes the throne that predates colonialism,” he thundered, referencing Obi’s Saturday X post: “I warmly congratulate my dear brother, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, Arusa I, on his installation as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland.” Hamzat contrasted this with Tinubu’s formal address at the coronation, noting, “The President did not call him ‘my friend’; maybe he said ‘brother.’ Olubadan has now turned to my father.” He argued that Tinubu and Atiku, as “peers in age and stature,” could use the term without offense, but Obi’s—17 years Ladoja’s junior—lacked the cultural gravitas.
The remarks, clipped and shared widely on X by user @AsakyGRN, have amplified the backlash that began with social media firebrands like Reno Omokri and Lere Olayinka. Omokri labeled Obi “low-cultured” and unfit for leadership, tweeting that the ancient Ibadan throne “deserves honourable treatment,” not flippant familiarity. Olayinka mocked Obi as “Mr. ONE SHOE alias AGBOTIKUYO,” highlighting the age gap and perceived arrogance. Hamzat’s intervention, however, has struck a deeper chord locally, with #ObiDisrespectsYoruba surging on X, amassing over 50,000 posts in 24 hours. “Oriyomi said it for us—respect the crown or stay in your lane,” one Ibadan native tweeted, while another quipped, “Tinubu gets a pass because he’s ‘one of us’? Hypocrisy or hierarchy? 🤔”
Obi, 64, fired back Sunday morning on X, assuring critics his words stemmed from “untrammelled goodwill, respect, and genuine affection.” He explained the phrase as his personal idiom for elders he admires—“my dear elder brother”—and stressed no malice toward the throne or Yoruba customs. “In matters of wrongdoing, motive is important. Certainly, no disrespect intended,” he added, invoking his Igbo-rooted warmth. Supporters like media personality Daddy Freeze hailed it as “cultural bridge-building,” but Hamzat wasn’t buying it. In a follow-up Instagram clip, he retorted, “Explanation after the fact? Too late. Yoruba culture isn’t a debate club—it’s sacred. I’m not blocking his votes; I’m educating my people.”
The spat unfolds against the backdrop of Oba Ladoja’s glittering Friday coronation at Mapo Hall, attended by heavyweights including Tinubu, Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde. The 81-year-old’s ascension, after a 32-year climb through Ibadan’s storied hierarchy, symbolized unity—but Obi’s gaffe has reignited ethnic fault lines in Nigeria’s polarized political arena. Hamzat, no stranger to controversy (he once faced detention over a radio exposé), framed his stance as guardianship: “This isn’t politics; it’s preserving our fathers’ legacy.”
Online reactions are split: Obi’s “Obidient” base decries it as tribal baiting—“Hatred for Obi > Yoruba pride,” one viral thread argued—while Yoruba nationalists rally behind Hamzat, sharing clips of past slights. As Ladoja’s reign begins with prayers from gospel icon Bola Are, this dust-up begs the question: Can a “dear brother” evolve into “royal father,” or has the damage stuck?