Because Pastor Afolabi Olaoye, also known as Ghandi, is not a Muslim, the Christian Association of Nigeria has asked Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde not to reject him as the new Soun of Ogbomoso.
This was said in an interview with the PUNCH, yesterday by Joseph Adegoke, the CAN chairman in Ogbomoso.
The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Jesus House, Washington, United States, pastor Ghandi was chosen by kingmakers in Ogbomoso, and the governor’s consent was requested, but the governor had not yet given his OK to Ghandi’s nomination.
Since Ghandi’s name was offered to the governor a few months ago, several town people are concerned that he hasn’t accepted or rejected him.
But according to a video our correspondent saw, the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, Sheikh Teliat Ayilara, advised the governor to seek proper approval before approving anyone during the previous Ramadan.
The Chief Imam said he was grateful to the governor for not approving who he said “is not satisfactory to us.”
The Chief Imam could not be located, but when asked about the authenticity of the video, his personal assistant, R.K. Teliat, confirmed to our correspondent that the Imam gave the speech in the video on Friday in the Ogbomoso home of the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Oyo State, Segun Ogunwuyi.
The Imam in the video said, “Concerning the selection of a new Soun of Ogbomoso, I told the governor that he should not just approve anyone without due consultations.
“One would think the governor did not understand me when I said that but he did. For that reason I thank our governor for not approving what is not satisfactory to us.”
When our correspondent spoke with Adegoke, the CAN zone chairman in Ogbomoso, he expressed amazement at what the Chief Imam had said.
He said, “I was surprised about what he said, it shouldn’t be so. The kingmakers selected him (Ghandi) after he was nominated by his ruling house. So, hearing that came as a surprise to us, we members of CAN.
“That is not correct. Our appeal is to the governor to make the announcement without further delay. Since the ruling house approved his nomination, I believe the governor would have made findings about the matter.”
The governor has been given a name, and the people are waiting for him to make a declaration about it, according to Chief Sobalaje Otolorin, the head of the kingmakers in Ogbomoso.
After nearly 48 years of rule, the last Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi, passed away on December 12, 2021, leaving the throne empty.
