22-Year-Old Ondo Monarch Declares: “Stop Calling Me ‘Bro’ or ‘Blood’”

In a bold statement that’s sparking conversation across social and traditional corridors of Nigeria, Oba Oloyede Adekoya Akinghare II, the 22-year-old Arujale-Ojime of Okeluse Kingdom, Ondo State, has urged the public to stop addressing him with casual terms like “bro” or “blood.” The palace insists that such informal modes of address are disrespectful to both his position and the cultural dignity of the Yoruba throne. 

A formal statement issued on Friday by Prince Adefemi Michael Olorunfemi, Chief of Staff to the monarch, emphasised that His Royal Majesty should be the only acceptable form of address — no exceptions. The palace described the use of “bro” or “blood” as a thinly veiled attempt to undermine the sacred authority of the throne. 

Prince Olorunfemi stressed that Oba Akinghare’s youth should not be mistaken for weakness, and that respect for traditional rulers is a cultural value that must be upheld regardless of age or social familiarity. He warned that continued breaches of this decorum “will be met with strong and decisive measures,” underscoring that respect for the monarchy is central to preserving Yoruba heritage and identity. 

Oba Akinghare ascended the throne at just 16 years old, following the passing of his father, making him one of the youngest kings in Yorubaland. As tradition dictated, he became monarch while still a secondary school student, with the selection ratified both by kingmakers and the Ondo State Government. 

The palace’s stern directive taps into deeper conversations about how modern society balances familiarity with respect for cultural institutions, particularly when traditional leadership intersects with a generation raised on social media vernacular and informal interpersonal language.