The Chairman of the Ondo State Council of Traditional Rulers and Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye, has criticized monarchs who neglect traditional customs after assuming the throne.
Oba Ogunoye stated that any monarch unwilling to uphold traditional customs should step down from the throne.
He made this known in Akure during a colloquium marking the 10th coronation anniversary of the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi. His remarks came in response to Dr. Festus Adedayo, a journalist and scholar, who argued that the traditional institution has lost much of its cultural depth and mystique.
Dr. Adedayo traced the institution’s decline from pre-colonial reverence to modern-day dilution, blaming current monarchs for weakening its sacred image.
According to him “The traditional institution must redeem itself if it wants to be taken seriously. It can do this by upholding the myths and comportment passed down from ancient times, including burial rites, sacred appearances, and dignified conduct.
Reacting, Oba Ogunoye, urged that there must not be a sweeping categorization of kings but specific references to the ones that go out of the bounds of the institution.
” You must identify specific individuals who have violated traditional norms rather than make sweeping generalizations.
“Personally, I am a traditionalist to the core. Before becoming Olowo of Owo, I lived in the palace with my father for 25 years and fully understood the requirements.
“Tradition is not repugnant, it is a sacred heritage that must be preserved.
“Taking up the role of a monarch is a matter of choice, not by compulsion.
“If you want to be an Oba, be prepared to abide by the customs. If you cannot, then don’t accept the position. It is not by force. Let us embrace our traditions, they are not in conflict with dignity or modernity.
Oba Ogunoye praised the Oyo State Government for respecting tradition in selecting the new Alaafin of Oyo.
In his keynote address, Governor Seyi Makinde highlighted the monarchy’s deep-rooted significance in Nigeria’s history, predating colonialism and oil discovery.
He emphasized the vital role of traditional rulers in preserving identity, legitimacy, and unity, urging governments to invest in cultural institutions as part of effective governance.
