Prince Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye
The new Soun of Ogbomoso, Prince Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, a pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, has said he will not sit on the stool as an evangelist or pastor but as a shepherd of the people.
In a trending interview, the man popularly known as Pastor G said he will allow all the people to continue in the chosen faith, whether as Christians, Muslims, traditionalists or atheists, stressing that it’s only when the constituents see the love of Christ in him that they would ask of the God he serves.
“A pastor is a shepherd and a good shepherd has all types of sheep”, he said, so “I expect to be a shepherd to all types of people with different modes of worship and characters.”
He recalled that his father never told him the path to the throne and that in the course of the vacancy of the stool for 21 months, he never lobbied or tried to influence his choice as the Soun.
The new Soun said when he sought the face of God on the matter, God told him that he was born for the throne. This, he said, gave him peace of mind and cleared every cloud of confusion.
“The only thing I told God was God if it is you, let the process happen of a natural course without me interfering or lobbying,” he said.
He said he will not inherit any of the wives of the last Soun because the kingship of Ogbomoso does not permit such practice, unlike what you have in some other parts of Yorubaland.
According to him, he is not worried about not having a son. “I have two beautiful daughters and that’s okay for me.
“I’m not worried about having a son or not who will succeed me, No. Am I going to be changing diapers at 60?” he asked.
It will be recalled that on Saturday, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde approved the appointment of Prince Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye to be the next Soun of Ogbomosoland.
A statement by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Olusegun Olayiwola, said the announcement followed the long-drawn processes specified under the law.
The statement said, “His Excellency congratulates the new Soun-elect on his ascension to the throne of his forebears.”
Prince Olaoye studied English Language in Nigeria before moving abroad for postgraduate study in Industrial and Labour Relations.
Until 1992 when he became a pastor under the Redeemed Christian Church, he was an accomplished entrepreneur cum motivational speaker.
He had pastored three RCCG churches in Nigeria before migrating to Germany where he oversaw another RCCG Parish in Bonn, Germany.
He is 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.
