VIDEO: President Tinubu’s phone call to Fuji star K1 sparks controversy 

A recent phone call from President Bola Tinubu to Fuji music maestro Wasiu Ayinde, K1 de Ultimate, is currently generating controversy across social media, following how the music artist addressed the president during the conversation.

In a video making the rounds across social media, K1 was seen speaking with President Tinubu, who apparently called to commiserate with him on the passing of his mother.

However, some social media users, particularly those of Yoruba extraction, have taken exception to K1’s speech, condemning the musician for his choice of words, which they described as disrespectful to the president.

“No iota of respect from K1 to Asiwaju. Is he not a Yoruba man? Why should he be using such a word like IWO to the President? 
Does K1 want to claim that he and Asiwaju are age mates?
Too arrogant for my liking,” a Facebook user said.

“One of the reasons I don’t like this man, very stupid and arrogant, for God’s sake, you are talking to the president of the most powerful Black nation on earth, so there is a need for some omoluabi ethos; we are Yoruba, please; all this Lagos person colourations don’t add up, please; in another video, look at how he greeted an oba as well; the other day he finds it very difficult to even dobale for Kollington Ayinla,” another user complained.

Watch the video of the conversation between K1 and the president below:

However, other social media users defended K1:

“K1’s use of “Amin Akanbi iwo naa a pe funmi” when addressing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was not intended as disrespectful. This is a common practice among Lagosians, especially on Lagos Island, Eko, where informal, jovial address using “iwo” to an elder is acceptable”.

“He wanted to prove his closeness to the President, hence his light-hearted way of addressing Jagaban. Baba too was hilarious with him. It is no disrespect. 
It is simply a reflection of his closeness to the president. We are all human beings after all.”

This incident depicts the subtle nuances and differences that exist among culturally homogeneous people like the Yoruba, comprising various sub-units.

As someone noted, Yoruba people from Oyo, Egba, Ibadan, and Ilu Oke recognise the difference between O and E in the Yoruba language. But the Ijebu and Eko seem not to pay attention to these nuances in their speech.