The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has responded to critics who questioned his decision not to prevent Pastor Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye from vying for the position of his forebears in Ogbomoso.
Speaking at Beulah Baptist Conference in Ogbomoso, the venue of an interdenominational thanksgiving service for the New Soun, Pastor Adeboye explained that he knew Pastor Ghandi was destined to be king.
“When he came to me to inform me about the development, I told him to go and pray,” said Pastor Adeboye. “He came back and said he has 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.’ It was then that I told him to go because it has been destined. I knew that long ago, but I want God to speak to him directly.”
Addressing his critics, Pastor Adeboye emphasized that if he had said no and God said yes, God’s word would be final. He stressed that he could not stop Pastor Ghandi from becoming king because it was destined.
During the counseling session, Pastor Adeboye advised the monarch to embrace people and promote peace and unity among his subjects. After the sermon, he anointed the king and his wife and prayed for his peaceful and prosperous reign as Soun of Ogbomoso.
In his address to the congregation, Oba Ghandi expressed his gratitude towards Pastor Enoch Adejare, calling him his spiritual role model. He urged the people of Ogbomoso to work together for the development of their land.
“I will be the king to the Christians, Muslims, and traditional rulers,” said Oba Ghandi. “I will be a king to every son and daughter of this land. That is my strength, and I believe that God will give me His mercy to lead His people. I want everybody in this land to pray for me.”
I am bringing this write-up to support the decision of Pastor Adeboye of the Redeem Church. When the announcement was made that a Pastor was interested to contest the Oba ship of Soun of Ogbomoso, I had a reservation of his decision not to be of God but demonic. I further prayed for a genuine Soun of Ogbomoso whose reign would bring about prosperity to Ogbomoso and its people. God knows my mind about Ogbomoso land. In 1947, I was fortunate to meet Baale of Ogbomoso now Soun of Ogbomoso OLANIPEKUN in his palace. A grandson of the Baale was a school mate of mine and we often walked together from Ogbomoso Peoples Institute {OPI} together after school. He would depart and enter the Palace while I would continue my journey to my family house, OLOWOLA at Oke Osupa. One day he advised that I should see his grandfather the Baale. I was only ten years old but never afraid of opportunity. I agreed to his request. He took me personally to the Baale. The visit was not easy because I had to portray seven times before I could reach the Baale. There were iron roads laid on the ground and before you crossed each iron, it was a must to portray before crossing the rod iron. To cut a long story short, I finally met the Baale and he was happy to meet me. He prayed and declared that I would be a blessing to Ogbomoso land. I must confess, anything about Ogbomoso land always have priority to me to date. On my return from the USA to Nigeria in 1974, I met the late Soun of Ogbomoso Oba Oladunni Oyewumi and I was very close to him until 2002 when I relocated back to the USA. The new Soun {Oba Olaoye} may not know how he got to the throne. I can assure you that his appointment is definitely from God not from any human being. The Holy Spirit directed me to the era when Missionaries visited Ogbomoso and were welcomed in good faith and with open hands by traditional worshipers is a way of compensating Ogbomoso with a king that would bring the land to the promise land. I foresee a rapidly developed Ogbomoso land during his reign. Undoubtedly, he is God’s sent. He is fully committed to match Ogbomoso land to the promised land. To those who are clamoring to turn Ogbomoso land to a religious warfare should have a re-thinking and work closely to develop the land all to the glory of God Almighty. Pastor Adeboye’s present in the life of King Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye is of God. It has nothing to do with politics or religion. Ogbomoso land is a healing land and a peaceful land. The progress of the land will continue on abated for God’s hand is faithfully on the land.