The palace of the Arujale-Ojime of Okeluse Kingdom, in Ondo State, has a message for everyone: show some respect when addressing their 22-year-old king, Oba Oloyede Adekoya Akinghare II.
Prince Adefemi Olorunfemi, who speaks for the palace, made it clear that the king must always be addressed as His Royal Majesty. Anything less just won’t fly anymore.
Apparently, some people have been calling the king things like bro or blood, which is seen as disrespectful.
The statement from Prince Olorunfemi says, basically, Listen up! Oba Oloyede Adekoya Akinghare II is to be called His Royal Majesty, period.
Just because he’s the youngest king in Yoruba land doesn’t mean you can be disrespectful. Calling him ‘bro,’ ‘blood,’ or anything similar is out of line and won’t be tolerated. Don’t mistake His Majesty’s kindness for weakness, or think it’s okay to be disrespectful. Especially those of you who identify as Yoruba should understand and respect this. Culture, tradition, and respect for authority are important values.
No matter who you are, how old you are, or what your place is in society, the king deserves your respect. It’s not up for discussion. He’s not just our father; he’s the representative of the gods on earth. His throne is sacred, and respecting him means respecting our heritage.
The palace is asking everyone, inside and outside of Okeluse Kingdom, to act accordingly and respect the palace and the king. They stress that respecting the king is key to keeping Yoruba culture and tradition alive.
Oba Akinghare became king at just 16, while still in secondary school.
He was the only son. Tradition says the oldest son of the previous king should take the throne. So, he became the new traditional ruler of Okeluse.
