Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has justified the Yoruba culture of showing respect to elders, believing that blessings will follow.

In a post shared on his X page (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, August 18, 2024, Omokri noted that if respect do not exist in a culture, money will become more important than blood and respect.

He claimed that Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, is where he is today because he shows respect.

According to him, Wizkid’s career took a sharp turn when he prostrated before legendary singer King Sunny Ade on October 17, 2013.

He noted that after that show of respect, Sunny Ade prayed for him by saying “God bless you”, which led to a major breakthrough in his career.

Omokri stated that before Sunny Ade’s blessings, Wizkid had not achieved any significant milestones in his career, but after the prayer, the ‘Essence’ singer sold out the O2 Arena three times and won a Grammy Award.

Here is his post,

“How are people surprised that a person who can call their own father a 'nobody' is behaving this way over money? If respect does not exist in a culture, money will matter more than blood and respect.

And it is the same way one short former governor who became a failed minister sued his own father over a land dispute, which made President Obasanjo turn against him. President Obasanjo was so disgusted!

Respect is that central Omo-ti-Olu-Iwa-Bi culture and is responsible for why Wizkid is where he is today.

Please fact-check me: Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun's career went into serious orbit after Thursday, October 17, 2013, when he prostrated before King Sunny Ade, and KSA uttered three words over him, 'God bless you'.

Before that 'God bless you', Wizkid never sold out the O2 Arena. After that, he sold out the O2 Arena three times and won a Grammy.

Wizkid's life can be divided into Before Blessing, or BB, and After Blessing, or AB.

When you worship money over respect for elders, your success will be limited, whether in politics, business, entertainment or religion.

If you can disrespect your own earthly father, why would you think your Heavenly Father will let you into His Presence, or give you power over men?

If you look at the people known for respect in Nigeria, they are always at the helm of affairs, whether it is government, wealth, religion, music or movies.

The greatest act of humility is to respect your parents and familial elders.

“God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble.”-James 4:6.

#TableShaker”

Watch the video below of Wizkid performing with King Sunny Ade