Stop Addressing Me as “Bro” or “Blood,” 22-Year-Old Ondo Monarch Warns Public

The palace of the Arujale-Ojime of Okeluse Kingdom in Ondo State has cautioned members of the public against using informal or derogatory language when addressing the monarch, 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 only as *His Royal Majesty*, warning that any other form of address would no longer be accepted.

The palace said some individuals had taken to calling the monarch “bro” or “blood,” a practice it described as disrespectful and unacceptable, regardless of the king’s age.

Prince Olorunfemi stated that Oba Akinghare’s status as the youngest monarch in Yorubaland does not diminish the dignity of the throne or justify informal treatment. He stressed that the monarch’s calm disposition should not be mistaken for tolerance of disrespect.

The statement added that respect for traditional authority remains a core Yoruba value and applies to all persons, irrespective of age, social standing, or position. The palace described the throne as sacred and the monarch as a custodian of the people’s cultural and spiritual heritage.

Residents of Okeluse Kingdom and the general public were urged to uphold the dignity of the palace and conduct themselves appropriately in their dealings with the monarch. The palace emphasised that respect for the throne is not negotiable and is central to preserving Yoruba culture and tradition.

Oba Oloyede Adekoya Akinghare II ascended the throne at the age of 16 while he was still a secondary school student. He became king following the death of his father, the former monarch of the town.

As the first son of the late ruler, tradition required his immediate succession. The kingmakers subsequently affirmed him as monarch, and the Ondo State Government approved the appointment.