The palace of the Arujale-Ojime of Okeluse Kingdom, Ondo State, has issued a stern warning to the general public against what it described as disrespectful modes of address directed at the 22-year-old traditional ruler, Oba Oloyede Adekoya Akinghare II.

In a statement issued on behalf of the palace on Friday, the Chief of Staff to the monarch, Prince Adefemi Olorunfemi, stressed that the king must be addressed strictly as His Royal Majesty at all times, noting that any deviation from this would no longer be tolerated.

According to him, some people are hiding under the guise of addressing the monarch as “bro or blood” particularly to disrespect him.

The statement read, “I write in my capacity as Amb. Prince Adefemi Michael Olorunfemi, Chief of Staff to the Arujale-Ojima of Okeluse Kingdom, Ondo State, to address an important matter that requires the attention of the general public. Kindly note that Alayeluwa Oba Oloyede Adekoya Akinghare II is to be addressed strictly as His Royal Majesty at all times.

“Any other form of address is unacceptable. The fact that His Royal Majesty is the youngest king in Yoruba land does not give room for disrespect in any form.

“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. Such actions will be met with strong and decisive measures. His Majesty’s leniency and calm disposition should not be mistaken for weakness, nor should it be taken as permission to do the wrong thing. Especially for those who call themselves Yoruba, we should know better. Culture, tradition, and respect for constituted authority are values we must uphold at all times.

“Regardless of your status, age, or position in society, the king must be respected. This is non-negotiable. His Royal Majesty is not just our father; he is Igbakeji awon orisa, the representative of the gods on earth. The throne he occupies is sacred, and respect for the throne is respect for our heritage and identity as a people.”

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

“We urge everyone, within and outside Okeluse Kingdom, to conduct themselves accordingly and uphold the dignity of the palace and the person of His Royal Majesty. Respect for the throne is non-negotiable,” the statement added.

Oba Akinghare ascended the throne of his forefathers at age 16 as a secondary school student.

The kingship fell on him as the only son out of four children of his late father who was the monarch of the town.

Since the tradition of the ancient town demands that the first son of the monarch who passed on should automatically ascend the throne, the teenager was left with no option other than to become the traditional ruler of the town.

The kingmakers of the town wasted no time in pronouncing the teenager as the new traditional ruler of Okeluse, while the state government expressly approved the choice of the people of the town. (PUNCH)

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