The sanctity of Nigeria’s traditional institutions is being aggressively undermined by the very people sworn to protect them. This disturbing trend, particularly among some Yoruba monarchs, signals a crisis of moral authority with profound implications for society.
The town of Ido Ani in Ondo State was recently thrown into confusion, witnessing a shocking display of abuse of power. On Monday, October 6, 2026, the Onidogun of Idogun Kingdom, Oba Moses Bakare, reportedly led a group of palace aides to the popular Abuja Junction, where they assaulted and attempted to abduct a man in broad daylight. Eyewitnesses recounted that the attackers pounced on their victim and tied his hands before irate youths intervened to prevent the tragedy. It was later gathered that the monarch himself was leading the operation, claiming the man was one of the youths who had allegedly flogged him, his wife, and son the previous week. Rather than reporting the matter to the security agencies, the king’s decision to personally pursue vigilantism represents a shocking disregard for the rule of law.
Sadly, Oba Bakare’s conduct is not an isolated case. In recent times, a disturbing pattern of indiscipline, recklessness, and moral decay has crept into Nigeria’s traditional institutions, turning the throne of honour into a stage for public embarrassment.
The public spectacle caused by the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, who was recently in the news for accusing the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, of conspiring with his estranged wife to harm him, underscored the severe erosion of decorum expected from royal fathers. Once voices of wisdom and restraint, some monarchs now make unguarded public outbursts that draw nationwide condemnation.
Equally disturbing are reports of monarchs compromising the integrity of the royal stool, such as the traditional ruler in Osun State allegedly serving a jail term in the United States for fraud-related offenses, and the Epetedo monarch caught on video threatening a subordinate over land disputes. When a king is caught smoking marijuana in public, what moral compass remains for him to lecture his subjects on morality? This kind of behaviour not only ridicules the royal stool but also severely weakens its moral authority within the community.
Contrast this with the exemplary conduct of the Oba of Benin, who demonstrated what true royalty should embody. When the daughter of President Bola Tinubu attempted to extend her self-proclaimed title as “Iyaloja-General of Nigeria” to Edo State, the revered monarch calmly but firmly cautioned her, restoring decorum and reaffirming the cultural sovereignty of his kingdom.
The fundamental problem lies in how many Yoruba thrones are selected today, often becoming instruments of political patronage, sold to the highest bidder rather than bestowed upon men of honour and wisdom. Some occupants have become mere errand boys for politicians, compromising their ancestral independence and moral authority. The result is a dangerous leadership vacuum that leaves communities vulnerable to rising insecurity, banditry, and moral collapse. Palaces, which were once sanctuaries of justice and wisdom, are now, in some cases, the scenes of scandal and criminality, reflected by alarming reports of gunmen invading palaces, kidnapping monarchs, and collecting ransom.
In the past, a king’s voice carried divine weight, his words restored order, averted crises, and commanded respect. Today, if the custodians of culture become the violators of its sanctity, society loses its moral anchor.
The Yoruba nation must, therefore, urgently return to the integrity of the old selection process, where kingship was determined through “Ifa” divination and rigorous character assessment, not through money, lobbying, or religious affiliations. Our royal institutions must be purged of impostors and morally bankrupt individuals who desecrate the thrones of their ancestors. Until traditional rulers rediscover the essence of humility, discipline, and cultural stewardship, the moral fabric of society will continue to unravel. The time has come to say enough of rogues on our thrones, or risk losing forever the reverence that once defined our heritage.