"Gone are those days when a simple administrative agent will be commanding Royalty in Fako and South West in general," Ekosso thundered.

In a statement titled, "a call on all the South West chiefs and particularly the Fako chiefs to stay put", the opposition leader says people don't become chief by honouring the May 20 parade.

"Your Royal Highnesses, Calvary greetings to your kingdoms and thrones. The royalty which is upon you all was not bestowed on you because you honored the 20th May celebrations.  This 20th May met the tradition which confided in you and upon you Royal Majesty inherited from God through our ancestors," said Ekosso.

He said anyone challenging royalty is challenging God. "In this regard, anybody who attempts to challenge this Royal Authority upon you is not only trying to resist you, but is trying to resist the people and to also challenge God!"

Ekosso who boasts to be a son of the soil of the South West Region calls on traditional rulers who can make it to Bongo Square for the May 20 parade to do so and should do so by sitting at the grandstand.

"But those who cannot make it due to insecurity should stay where their lives will be secured. As a son of the soil, I want to encourage you all to be strong in the midst of this senseless challenge on Royalty.

"I am standing by you all and will do all in my power to see that the Royal Thrones of South West and particularly Fako are Revered, Respected, and Treated with Solemnity and Dignity.

"This is part of my social contract towards the restoration of our dignity. Thank you all, God bless your Royal Thrones and may God bless South West Chiefs," the USDP leader said.

It should be recalled that South West Governor Okalia Bilai said on April 25, 2019 that all Chiefs in the region are expected to march on May 20 along with their subjects under pain of losing their royal crowns.

Plenty of noise has greeted the governor's instructions,  but no chief has openly come out to state their position.