WHEN THE GODS ARE HIGH: The Tragic Irony of Drug Addiction on the Throne

By David Alani Ige, (The Scribe)

July 25, 2026

              

In Yorubaland, the throne is not merely a seat of political authority; it is the ultimate altar of morality. An 'Oba' (King) is revered as 'Igbakeji Orisa' (Second to the gods). He is the custodian of the people's culture, the defender of their values, and the moral compass by which the youths navigate their lives. 

But what happens when the moral compass itself is thoroughly broken? What happens when the gods, instead of dispensing wisdom, are getting "high"?

Recently, a deeply disturbing whisper has begun to echo through the corridors of power and the quiet streets of the Okè-Ògùn region. It is a privileged, yet heartbreaking piece of intelligence: some of our revered traditional rulers—men who wear the sacred beaded crowns—are allegedly battling crippling drug addiction and substance abuse. 

The Collapse of Moral Authority

A leader cannot lead a people out of a forest he is lost in. It is an established maxim of leadership that you must lead by example. How can a traditional ruler sit in council to mediate disputes, guide the youth, and decree laws for the prosperity of his town when his own mind is clouded by narcotics? 

Just yesterday, the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), made a passionate appeal, urging traditional rulers to take ownership of the war against drug abuse in their domains. Marwa rightly stated that the NDLEA cannot win the war without the active partnership of the monarchs. 

But here lies the tragic irony: How can an Oba declare war on drug peddlers in his community when he is allegedly their biggest client? How can a king summon the youths to his palace to warn them about the dangers of 'Tramadol', 'Codeine', or 'Loud' when his own royal veins are coursing with the same illicit substances?

A Desecration of the Crown

When a regular citizen falls into the abyss of drug addiction, it is a personal tragedy. When a king falls into it, it is a communal catastrophe. The 'Ade' (Crown) is sacred. It is believed to carry the spirits of the ancestors. To place that crown on a head that is voluntarily surrendering its sanity to hard drugs is the ultimate desecration of our heritage.

If these allegations are true, these traditional rulers are not just destroying their own lives—they are destroying the reverence of the institution they represent. They are normalizing degeneracy. When the youths of Okè-Òògùn look up to the palace and see a ruler who lacks self-control, they will naturally conclude that discipline and morality are outdated concepts. 

A Call for Institutional Cleansing

While we will not mention names at this stage, Ayekooto Media is sounding a very loud alarm. The traditional institution in Okè-Ògùn and across Oyo State must conduct an immediate, internal moral audit. 

1. To the Kingmakers and Elders: The selection process for an Oba must go beyond mere genealogy and wealth. We must begin to scrutinize the character, mental stability, and medical fitness of those we elevate to the throne. A drug addict has no business holding the staff of office.

2. To the State Government: The Oyo State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters must not turn a blind eye to the private lives of traditional rulers when it begins to affect their public duties. 

3. To the Erring Monarchs: The throne is a place of service, not a sanctuary for unchecked vices. If the burden of leadership is too heavy, the honorable thing to do is to step down and seek medical rehabilitation, rather than dragging the sacred crown through the mud of addiction.

A king who cannot rule himself has no right to rule a people. A word is enough for the wise.

David Alani Ige, (The Scribe)

Publisher/ Editor-in-Chief, Ayekooto Media

Phunshor01@gmail.com | publisher@ayekootomediang.com

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