Palace warns against addressing 22-year-old Ondo monarch as ‘bro, blood’

The palace of the Arujale-Ojime of Okeluse Kingdom in Ondo State has cautioned members of the public against using what it described as disrespectful forms of address for 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 Michael Olorunfemi, said the king must be addressed strictly as His Royal Majesty, stressing that any deviation would no longer be tolerated.

According to the palace, some individuals have been referring to the 22-year-old monarch with casual terms such as “bro” or “blood,” a practice it said amounts to disrespect.

“The fact that His Royal Majesty is the youngest king in Yorubaland does not give room for disrespect in any form,” the statement read. “Addressing our revered monarch with terms such as ‘bro,’ ‘blood,’ or any casual or demeaning expressions is highly inappropriate and will no longer be tolerated.”

Prince Olorunfemi warned that such conduct would attract “strong and decisive measures,” adding that the monarch’s calm disposition should not be mistaken for weakness. He urged particularly those of Yoruba extraction to uphold cultural values, respect for tradition, and constituted authority.

“Regardless of your status, age, or position in society, 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 emphasizing the sacred nature of the throne.

The palace also called on residents of Okeluse Kingdom and the general public to always uphold the dignity of the throne, noting that respect for the monarch is central to the preservation of Yoruba culture and tradition.

Oba Akinghare 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 among four children, tradition required that he succeed his late father.

The kingmakers promptly installed him as the new ruler of Okeluse, a decision that was subsequently approved by the Ondo State Government.