ON THE WHOLE BROUHAHA ABOUT SENATOR CHIEF OVIE OMO-AGEGE BENDING THE KNEE TO APPRECIATE PRESIDENT BUHARI

– By Zik Gbemre

With regard to the recent video that has gone viral on different social media platforms, of Senator Chief Ovie Omo-Agege, who while on a visit in company of the newly sworn in National Assembly leaders to Aso Rock, knelt on one leg to greet President Muhammadu Buhari, we really do not understand what the fuss is all about, judging by some commentaries from our people and stakeholders. While some are saying Senator Omo-Agege, as the New Deputy Senate President bending the knee to greet and appreciate President Buhari is “bad optics”, and it was needless, others are of the view that as an Urhobo Chief, he should not have bent the knee. While I am not here to speak for, or on behalf of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, however, I really do not understand why our people are making a mountain out of a molehill. What is wrong with Deputy Senate President Omo-Agege, kneeling down on one leg to greet, thank and appreciate Mr. President, who happens to be the Number One Citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

Even when we look at the video carefully, Senator Omo-Agege was standing almost behind President Buhari before he was beckoned by Mr. President to come over and take a handshake. But whichever way we look at it, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that simple noble and humble gesture, which is a sign of showing respect to, not only to Mr. President, but someone who is older than himself Omo-Agege.

Yes, Omo-Agege is an Urhobo Chief, and so what? Is the title of a local Chief bigger than the title of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria? Even Chiefs and Traditional rulers are given their staff of Office by State Governors, which makes them more of appointees. So, what is the big deal about being an Urhobo Chief? Also, in case we have forgotten, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege can be described as one who practically rose from Delta State Politics some years back to become the Deputy Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which is like the number 4 citizen of the country. And he did this as the only Senator from Delta State, who is from the minority Urhobo tribe in Nigeria, to become the Deputy Senate President in the midst of the three major tribes and older Senators in the 9th Assembly. You think that is easy? Or it just happened?

So, what is then wrong with him bending the knee to shake hands with Mr. President? Besides, like I said before, President Buhari is not only older than Senator Omo-Agege, he is by virtue of the position he holds, the most powerful man in the country whether we like it or not. We are not Europeans or Americans, we are Africans who show respect to our elders, whether in public or anywhere else. The Urhobo language greeting: “Egwor/Migwor” literally means “I am on my knees”, which is how we greet our elders here. If Senator Omo-Agege chose to greet Mr. President that way, who are we to say it is wrong?

One of the major problems we have as a people, referring to those in the South-South, is this “backstabbing and pulling down” of our brothers and sisters who may have climbed the higher corporate or political ladder. This “bad blood” is the major reason many of us cannot go very far in the public arena, especially as it relates in the nation’s political space. You don’t see this with the Yorubas and the Hausas/Fulanis. These other tribes may quarrel and disagree amongst themselves, but when it comes to helping and supporting each other to climb in places of corporate and political power, they corporate as one. But here, it is a different thing entirely.

That is why I see this Omo-Agege kneeling down issue as mere “bad belle and envy”. Rather than us, as a people to roll out the red carpets in appreciation and support for our brother who is now the Deputy Senate President of the Federal Republic, we are here wasting our energy and time on how he should, or should not have greeted Mr. President. I believe there are far more pressing and important issues we should be focusing on, and not this trivial matter.
Zik Gbemre
June 12, 2019.

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