The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Saturday, approved the appointment of a pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Prince Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, as the new Soun of Ogbomoso land.
CKNNews had reported that the stool became vacant after the demise of Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, in December 2021, at the age of 95 year after he reigned for 48 years.
The selection of new monarch became a court issue as the Chairman, Screening Committee for Laoye Ruling House in Ogbomoso, Abdulwahab Laoye, said the family had not selected anybody to fill the vacant stool of Soun of Ogbomoso, dismissing as mere insinuations, social media report that someone had been selected.
He said the ruling house had been dazed with the rumours that one Ghandi Afolabi, a Pastor at the RCCG, had been selected.
“We did not select Ghandi and he is not among the eleven that the screening committee selected from 23 applicants. We do not want the matter to degenerate to the level of litigations, we scheduled a meeting on the 23rd of February and invited the council to observe, but the council hijacked the process from us and added another seven people on the claims that the seven people equally obtained the expression of interest form, thereby raising the number of the applicants to 18.”
However, a statement by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Olusegun Olayiwola, in Ibadan, the state capital, on Saturday, said the announcement followed the long-drawn processes specified under the law.
Olayiwola said, “His Excellency congratulates the new Soun-elect on his ascension to the throne of his forebears.”
The commissioner said the exalted position has placed the monarch-elect in the position to facilitate harmony, understanding and tolerance amongst his people.
He also urged all sons and daughters of the ancient city of Ogbomoso to work with the monarch to consolidate the successes of his forefathers.
8 Things You Need To Know About The New King
1. The Soun of Ogbomoso-designate, studied English Language in Nigeria before moving abroad for postgraduate study in Industrial and Labour Relations.
2. Until 1992 when he became a pastor under the Redeemed Christian Church, he was an accomplished entrepreneur cum motivational speaker.
3. Never wanted to be king
Though born to the royal family of Olaoye, one of the five royal families alongside the Oyewunmis and Ajagunlades in Ogbomoso, Prince Olaoye said he never wanted to be king, unlike his father who tried to become the Soun of Ogbomoso in 1940.
4. A pastor before being a king
Olaoye also called “Pastor G” had been pastoring for about 30 years; starting from 1992 when he began his pastoral duties at the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
He had pastored three RCCG churches in Nigeria before migrating to Germany where he oversaw another RCCG Parish in Bonn, Germany.
Currently, he pastors the RCCG, Jesus House in Washington DC, United States. He is also the coordinator in charge of Convention and Special Projects for RCCG, North America.
5. He said he informed the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, of his disinterest in the stool, who later told him he shouldn’t fight what he was born for.
6. Apart from his personal reservations about the ancient throne, being a pastor, Ghandi said his faith strongly contradicted every reason to become a traditional ruler. However, he said God spoke to him about the stool in a revelation.
While addressing his congregation at his church in the US, Ghandi said the reality of being the Soun of Ogbomoso- designate dawned on him after several consultations.
“You were born for this, this is the reason for your birth” was the confirmation Pastor Ghandi reportedly received from God after prayers for a crossroads of life at the beginning of 2022, precisely on January 2.
7. Planned to retire at 60.
After spending half of his adult life pastoring, Pastor Afolabi Ghandi said he had planned to retire to simple life at 60 before the big twist happened.
He said he had plans to tour the world since he loves travelling. According to him, his mysterious birth in a car might have been the reason for his undying passion for travelling across the world.
8. Happily marr
Prince Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye is happily married to Omo, who is also a pastor.
His wife founded and pastors the Jesus Women Ministries, a women’s organisation that is committed to addressing pertinent issues that affect women from birth to old age, to positively affect these areas in line with the word of God.