The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Sunday, said he knew long ago that the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye, was destined to be a king.
The PUNCH reports that Olaoye was an RCCG pastor, in charge of the church’s branch, Jesus House in Washington DC, when he was selected as the Soun of Ogbomoso after the ancient stool became vacant following the death of Oba Jimoh Oyewumi, Ajagungbade III.
Olaoye was installed as the 21st Soun of Ogbomoso in Oyo State in September and he is scheduled to be presented with the staff of office on Tuesday, December 19 by Governor, Seyi Makinde.
On Sunday, an interdenominational thanksgiving service for the new Soun was held at Beulah Baptist Conference, Ogbomoso.
In attendance was the RCCG General Overseer, Adeboye.
In his remarks, Adeboye said he had always known that Olaoye was born to be a king, adding that God had a hand in his ascension to the ancient throne.
The emergence of Olaoye, a pastor, as the Soun had raised an eyebrow in the public space, with many wondering how he would maneuver through the African traditional rites involved in the coronation of a Yoruba monarch.
Addressing the issue on Sunday, Adeboye said Olaoye’s emergence as Soun had God’s backing and he could not stop it.
The GO said, “I knew Olaoye was born to be king. When he (Olaoye) came to me to inform me about the development I told him to go and pray. He came back and said he had not heard anything. I told him to go back and pray again, and after a while, he came back and told me, ‘God has spoken. I have heard him loud and clear that I should go ahead’. It was then that I told him to go ahead because it had been destined. I knew that long ago but I wanted God to speak to him directly.
“To my critics, if I said no and God said yes, whose word is the final? God, of course. So, I cannot stop him because Pastor Olaoye was destined to be a king even before he was born and thank God it is coming to fruition.”
Adeboye, who took his scripture from the book of Act 15:18, advised the monarch to embrace the people and promote peace and unity among his subjects.
He subsequently anointed the king and his wife, praying for a peaceful and prosperous reign as Soun.
Responding, Oba Olaoye said, “I give the Lord all the glory for the day I met Pastor Adeboye. He has been a father to me. He is a spiritual father to me. He was a role model. I have travelled with him to every part of the world. I watched him closely and I saw a genuine man of God. So, he has been a role model to me. You can imagine how excited I am today (Sunday) that the person who anointed and laid hands on me to become a pastor is the same person who lays hands on me as a King today.
“This is a new season. I believe it’s a new dawn for Ogbomoso, where there will be an opportunity, this land shall be a land where God Almighty will reign. I want everybody in this land to continue to pray for me that the Lord should lead me aright. I will rule with equity, justice and fairness. I will not be the king to Christians alone, I will be a king to the Muslims, to the traditionalists and to every indigene of this land and make Ogbomosoland a place where sons and daughters can be proud. I pray for the grace and mercy to rule in the right way and do justice to everyone. I believe God will make this city a great city, the envy of many towns not only in this state not even in Nigeria but in the world at large.
“To the people of Ogbomosoland, I want to thank you all for the love you have been showing to me since I became the Soun of Ogbomosoland. Your love has been humbling to me and I will use all the networks that God has given me to help this city grow better.”
Special prayers were also offered by the President of Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev Israel Akanji; Bishop Titus Olayinka; Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu; Pastor J.S. Adegoke; Rev. Solomon Ademola Isola; former President of the seminary, Professor Nihinlola Emiola; Rev Stephen Ayankeye; Rev Bishop Moradeyo Olayinka; Bishop of Anglican Church, Rev Johnson Adeniji, Prophet Akintola, Baba Awoye among others.