The Olowo of Owo—Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, who also serves as the Chairman of the Ondo State Council of Traditional Rulers—has issued a powerful admonition:
>Anyone unwilling to abide by the ancient customs of traditional stools should not accept the title of a monarch.”**
He delivered this statement on July 18, 2025, during a colloquium held to mark the 10th coronation anniversary of the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi.
Olowo’s core message: True kingship in Yoruba culture is inseparable from tradition—those who cannot uphold customs have no rightful claim to the throne.
He was responding to criticism from a colloquium speaker, Dr. Festus Adedayo, who argued that contemporary monarchs have diluted the symbolic and cultural weight of the institution in modern life.
The Olowo’s remarks underscore tensions between modern pressures and age-old traditions that underpin legitimacy and community trust in traditional rulership.
The call resonates amid several controversies in Ondo State—including recent disputes over monarch selections where kingmakers have rejected self-appointed rulers for flouting customary protocols.
