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By John Ogunsemore
The Arujale-Ojima of Okeluse Kingdom in Ondo State, Oba Oloyede Adekoya Akinghare II, has reacted to a recent violent unrest that erupted in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, which reportedly targeted Nigerians and other foreign nationals.
The unrest allegedly followed protests against the controversial coronation of an Igbo traditional ruler.
In a Tuesday statement shared on Facebook, the 22-year-old monarch said the concept of crowning a king in another man’s land is fundamentally flawed given that a king is enthroned over a land that is bound to his ancestry, his forefathers, and the history of his people.
He said, “I have taken note of the protests in the Eastern Cape of South Africa concerning the crowning of an Igbo king, and the tensions that have followed.
“As a custodian of tradition, I consider it necessary to speak with clarity on a matter that touches the very foundation of our traditional institution.
“A king is not merely installed; he is enthroned over a land that is bound to his ancestry, his forefathers, and the history of his people.
“Such a land is not abstract. It is inherited, sometimes won, sometimes gifted, but always rooted in a people with shared origin, values, and traditions.
“The throne, therefore, is inseparable from the soil and the cultural authority it represents.
“For this reason, the concept of crowning a king in another man’s land is fundamentally flawed.
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“The institution of kingship carries weight, responsibility, and sovereignty within a defined cultural and territorial space.
“It is not a title to be replicated outside its natural jurisdiction.”
Oba Adekoya said while Nigerians in diaspora have a right to organize themselves into associations, they must exercise caution in how they name the heads of such groups.
He said, “Our people in the diaspora have every right to organize themselves into unions and associations that protect their welfare and promote their heritage.
“These bodies may be led by presidents, chairmen, or executives who attend to the needs of their people. That is proper and commendable.
“However, the elevation of such structures into kingship diminishes the sanctity of the traditional institution and creates avoidable conflict.
“The word ‘king’ is not light. It is sacred.
“Every Nigerian, regardless of where life takes them, traces their origin to a particular town, village, and kingdom.
“The king of that land remains their king. That identity does not change with migration, nor can it be recreated elsewhere.”
