The Oluoke of Okeigbo Kingdom in Ondo State, Oba Akintoye Adeoye, has spoken about combining his Christian faith with the cultural obligations of his position, maintaining that understanding the roots of traditional practices is important in carrying out his duties.
The monarch, who is also a lawyer and an ordained pastor, shared his experience in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, discussing his upbringing, journey to the throne and plans to improve the welfare of his people.
Adeoye explained that his academic background exposed him to African Traditional Religion before he became king. He studied the subject during his Higher School Certificate programme and later encountered it during his theological education.
According to him, this knowledge helped him understand the significance of the customary ceremonies he participated in during his coronation.
He argued that some African cultural practices had been unfairly stigmatised because people did not fully understand their historical background or purpose.
Addressing the relationship between Christianity and his traditional responsibilities, the monarch said, “The Bible teaches us to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. There may occasionally be situations in which traditional practices appear to conflict with aspects of Christian belief. However, my understanding of African Traditional Religion has helped me approach such matters with knowledge, judgment and perspective rather than fear.
“Within our traditional worldview, prayers and libations ultimately recognise Eledumare, the Supreme Being. Different cultures and traditions may use different expressions in their attempts to understand the Supreme Being. The Greeks, for example, spoke of the “unknown God”, while Christianity reveals Him to us as God Almighty.
“As king, however, I am not the father of Christians alone. I am the father of everyone in the kingdom.
“Therefore, I have a responsibility to create an environment of tolerance, peaceful coexistence and mutual respect.”
The monarch also attributed his approach to leadership to his years in the legal profession and the church. He said practising law taught him fairness, sound judgement and respect for due process, while his work in ministry strengthened his understanding of compassion and responsibility.
Since ascending the throne, Adeoye said he had maintained a cordial relationship with his chiefs, regularly seeking their opinions while retaining the responsibility to make final decisions.
Beyond cultural matters, the Oluoke outlined several initiatives intended to improve life in Okeigbo, with particular attention to education, healthcare, agriculture and opportunities for young people.
He disclosed that his administration was supporting schools and providing scholarships to students from less privileged families. Fifty scholarships had been made available to indigenes attending the Ondo State Technical College, Okeigbo, for the current academic session.
The monarch also revealed that mothers who give birth at the community’s health centre receive ₦30,000 each to support their families and encourage the use of the facility.
He added that discussions were ongoing with the Ondo State Ministry of Agriculture and other stakeholders on ways to improve farming and expand economic opportunities in the kingdom.
Adeoye said his vision was to build a community where cultural identity, religious tolerance, education and development could thrive together.
