The palace of the Arujale-Ojime of Okeluse Kingdom in Ondo State has issued a firm warning to the public, insisting that disrespectful and overly familiar forms of address toward the monarch will no longer be tolerated.
The warning concerns Oba Oloyede Adekoya Akinghare II, the 22-year-old traditional ruler of Okeluse Kingdom, who is widely regarded as the youngest reigning monarch in Yorubaland.
In a statement released on Thursday, January 22, 2026, by the Chief of Staff to the monarch, Prince Adefemi Olorunfemi, the palace made it clear that the king must be addressed strictly as His Royal Majesty at all times, irrespective of the speaker’s age, status, or social standing.
The statement condemned the growing habit of some members of the public referring to the monarch with casual and demeaning expressions such as “bro,” “blood,” or similar street slang. According to the palace, such language undermines the dignity of the throne and will henceforth attract “strong and decisive measures.”
Prince Olorunfemi stressed that Oba Akinghare’s youth does not diminish his authority or the sanctity of the traditional institution he represents.
“The fact that His Royal Majesty is the youngest king in Yorubaland does not warrant any form of disrespect,” the statement noted. “The throne must be honoured at all times.”
Oba Oloyede Adekoya Akinghare II ascended the throne in 2020 at the age of 16 following the death of his father. He completed his secondary education in 2022 and has since continued to carry out his royal duties as the Arujale-Ojime of Okeluse Kingdom.
The palace’s warning has sparked conversations online about respect for traditional institutions, especially in an era where informality and social media culture often blur long-standing cultural boundaries.
