Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, the new Soun of Ogbomoso, has spoken about his ascension to the throne, asserting that he accepted the role because God directed him to do so.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a video addressed to members of his church, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Olaoye explained that he didn’t accept the role because he had nothing else to do.
He mentioned that he had planned to retire from pastoral ministry after 30 years of service and travel the world. He, however, said he was born into a royal family and entitled to the throne of Ogbomoso.
Olaoye, who apologised to his members for “any embarrassment” they might have “felt by what has gone on on the social media,” saying he was “genuinely sorry,” explained that he had served at Jesus House for 26 years and the Church had become his family.
Olaoye said, “While I was in Nigeria in December, the king of our town died. I’m really close to the family because, like I said, I’m from a royal family.
“After the Oyewumis, the Ajagungbades…my family is next. Everybody from Ogbomoso who is familiar with the tradition knows that. And I, of course, knew about that.
“But I was not interested in it at all, because I believed that I had gone on a completely different part.”
Olaoye said his father also never told him that he could become the Soun of Ogbomoso if he wanted to be, so he never had any intention of becoming the king of the ancient town. He said people close to him and knew his family was the next to ascend the throne began to call him and to ask him to consider taking up the throne.
Olaoye said he called his spiritual father, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, to intimate him of the situation. He said when he told Adeboye that he was not interested, the G.O. asked him not to say that but to fast and pray about it.
He said he did not take the advice seriously as he did not pray about it.
He, however, said that he heard God tell him on January 2, 2022, that becoming the Soun of Ogbomoso was his destiny.
“The next thing I heard, clearly, ‘You were born for this; this is the reason for your birth.’
“That’s what I heard. Of course, that’s not what I was expecting. But, let me tell you this, when I hear, I am 10/10” he said.
