We keep rewarding bad behaviour – Daniel Regha knocks Ooni over Baba Ijesha

Popular social media commentator Daniel Regha has criticised the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, for hosting actor Baba Ijesha and honouring him with a chieftaincy title and gifts despite his previous conviction.

The criticism comes after Baba Ijesha announced that he and his wife visited the monarch, who welcomed them warmly, presented them with a brand new car and conferred on the actor the traditional title of Baba Awada Konge Oduwa, Ile Ife, Ile Oodua.

Reacting on his X page, Daniel Regha expressed disappointment with the monarch's decision, arguing that public figures should not celebrate individuals with serious criminal convictions.

According to him, such recognition sends the wrong message to society.

"The Ooni of Ife hosting and honouring someone like Baba Ijesha with a chieftaincy title plus gifts despite being a convicted pedophile, is exactly what is wrong with society today. We keep rewarding bad behaviour," he wrote.

Baba Ijesha was convicted in 2022 over offences relating to the sexual assault of a minor and was released from prison in 2025 after serving his sentence.

The royal honour has continued to generate mixed reactions online, with some Nigerians supporting the idea of rehabilitation and reintegration after a convicted person has served a sentence, while others believe public honours should not be bestowed in such circumstances.

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