The Oluoke of Okeigbo Kingdom in Ondo State, Oba Akintoye Adeoye, has said his Christian faith has not prevented him from performing traditional rites, stressing that understanding African traditions is essential to appreciating their significance.
Adeoye, who spoke in an exclusive interview with PUNCH, said his knowledge of African Traditional Religion, which he studied during his education and theological training, had helped him approach traditional practices with understanding rather than fear.
The traditional ruler said some African cultural practices had been wrongly portrayed because of inadequate knowledge of their origins, meanings and purposes.
“Knowledge makes a major difference. When you understand the origins, meanings and purposes of certain practices, you are better positioned to make informed judgments about them,” he said.
Adeoye, who was presented with the Staff of Office by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on November 4, 2025, explained that his responsibilities as a traditional ruler extended beyond members of his Christian faith.
“As king, however, I am not the father of Christians alone. I am the father of everyone in the kingdom,” he said, adding that he was committed to promoting tolerance, peaceful coexistence and mutual respect among residents.
The monarch, who is also a lawyer and an ordained pastor, said his professional and religious experiences had prepared him for the responsibilities of the throne.
He explained that his legal training had equipped him with skills in reasoning, justice, procedure and evidence, while his years in ministry had taught him compassion, leadership and responsibility.
Adeoye, however, acknowledged that becoming a king required continuous learning, noting that there was no formal institution where aspiring monarchs could be trained for the realities of traditional leadership.
He said he regularly consulted his chiefs, listened to their advice and considered their perspectives before making decisions, adding that his relationship with them had remained cordial.
Reflecting on his emergence as the Oluoke, Adeoye described the selection process as contentious, revealing that the most frightening moment occurred about an hour after he had been declared the winner.
According to him, some suspected thugs attacked the returning officer, alleging that their preferred candidate had won the contest.
“It was a frightening situation. By the grace of God, the man survived. That day remains one of the most difficult memories of the entire process for me,” he said.
The monarch also disclosed that a kidnapping incident near the boundary between Ondo town and Okeigbo, during which three people were abducted and an Okeigbo indigene later died from shock, had left him deeply traumatised.
He said the suspects were eventually arrested and handed over to the police, adding that the experience reinforced his personal concern for the safety and welfare of his subjects.
On his development agenda, Adeoye said he had adopted the theme “The New Jerusalem” to promote a new orientation among residents, particularly young people.
He disclosed that his administration was working with primary and secondary schools to improve educational standards and provide scholarships to bright students from indigent backgrounds.
The monarch added that 50 scholarships had been provided for Okeigbo indigenes attending the Ondo State Technical College, Okeigbo, during the current academic session.
He also said efforts were underway to improve the functionality and patronage of the Okeigbo Health Centre, revealing that mothers who delivered their babies at the facility received ₦30,000 each.
According to him, the initiative was designed both to support families and to encourage residents to make greater use of the health facility.
Adeoye identified agriculture as another priority, saying he was engaging the state Ministry of Agriculture and other stakeholders to explore ways of boosting productivity and increasing the economic benefits of farming.
He praised Aiyedatiwa for supporting Okeigbo, describing the governor as a friend of the community.
The monarch also said he remained passionate about teaching, disclosing that he would spend his free time in primary or secondary schools imparting knowledge to children.
Adeoye added that, as the traditional head of festivals in Okeigbo, he could not publicly declare a favourite among cultural celebrations such as Oro, Egungun and Ogun, explaining that each represented part of the community's history and identity.
