Final answer:
The councilors and governors intended Oroonoko's public execution to serve as a deterrent to others, ensuring obedience and preventing future rebellions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The councilors and governors concluded that Oroonoko should be publicly executed as a method to intimidate and control the population, suggesting a form of state terror to prevent rebellion and enforce order.
A public execution of this sort serves as a chilling demonstration of the consequences of rebelling against authority, which in turn is intended to discourage others from similar uprisings or disobedience.
This idea aligns with the historical context of colonial rulers using extreme measures to protect their power and interests, maintaining a strict hierarchy and safeguarding colonial rule.