File photo: Oba Oloyede Adekoya Akinghare II
The palace of the Arujale-Ojime of Okeluse Kingdom in Ondo State has issued a stern warning to the public against what it described as disrespectful forms of address directed at the traditional ruler, Oba Oloyede Adekoya Akinghare II.
In a statement released on Friday, the Chief of Staff to the monarch, Prince Adefemi Olorunfemi, stressed that the 22-year-old king must be addressed strictly as His Royal Majesty at all times, warning that any deviation from the recognised royal title would no longer be tolerated.
The palace said some individuals had been hiding under the guise of familiarity by referring to the monarch with casual terms such as “bro” or “blood,” a development it described as highly inappropriate and disrespectful.
According to the statement, the fact that Oba Akinghare is the youngest monarch in Yorubaland does not in any way justify a lack of respect for the throne. It warned that continued use of demeaning or informal expressions in addressing the king would attract “strong and decisive measures.”
The palace emphasised that the monarch’s calm disposition and leniency should not be mistaken for weakness, adding that respect for constituted authority, culture and tradition remained core Yoruba values. It further noted that irrespective of age, status or position, the king must be accorded due respect as the custodian of the people’s heritage.
Describing the monarch as Igbakeji awon orisa—the representative of the gods on earth—the statement said the throne he occupies is sacred and that respect for the throne equates to respect for the identity and history of the people of Okeluse Kingdom.
The palace urged residents of the kingdom and the general public to always uphold the dignity of the throne, stressing that respect for the monarch was central to the preservation of Yoruba culture and tradition.
Oba Akinghare ascended the throne of his forefathers at the age of 16 while still a secondary school student, following the death of his father, who was the monarch of the town. As the only son among four children, tradition required that he automatically succeed his late father. The kingmakers subsequently installed him as the ruler of Okeluse Kingdom, a decision that was formally approved by the Ondo State Government.
