The palace of the Arujale-Ojime of Okeluse Kingdom in Ondo State has cautioned members of the public against using informal or casual terms when addressing the town’s traditional ruler, Oba Oloyede Adekoya Akinghare II.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Chief of Staff to the monarch, Prince Adefemi Olorunfemi, said the king must be addressed strictly as His Royal Majesty, stressing that any form of deviation would no longer be tolerated.
According to the palace, some individuals have been referring to the 22-year-old monarch with expressions such as “bro” or “blood,” a practice it described as disrespectful and inappropriate.
The statement noted that the monarch’s young age should not be misconstrued as an excuse for familiarity or disregard for tradition, adding that Oba Akinghare II remains deserving of full respect accorded to the throne.
Prince Olorunfemi warned that such informal modes of address would attract decisive measures, stressing that the monarch’s calm and accommodating nature should not be mistaken for weakness.
He emphasised that respect for the traditional institution was a core value of Yoruba culture, urging especially those of Yoruba descent to uphold long-standing customs and reverence for constituted authority.
“Regardless of status, age or position, the king must be respected. This is non-negotiable,” the statement said, describing the monarch as Igbakeji awon orisa, the representative of the gods on earth, and the throne as sacred.
The palace further called on residents of Okeluse Kingdom and the general public to always conduct themselves in a manner that preserves the dignity of the throne, noting that respect for the monarch was central to the preservation of Yoruba culture and identity.
Oba Akinghare II ascended the throne at the age of 16 while still a secondary school student, following the death of his father, the former monarch of the town. As the only son of the late king, tradition required that he automatically succeed his father.
The kingmakers of Okeluse Kingdom subsequently pronounced him the new monarch, a decision that received the approval of the Ondo State Government.
