Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo State, has received advice from the Christian Association of Nigeria not to disqualify Pastor Afolabi Olaoye, also known as Ghandi, from becoming the next Soun of Ogbomoso simply because he is not a Muslim.
In an interview with our correspondent on Monday, Joseph Adegoke, the CAN chairman in Ogbomoso, said this.
The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Jesus House, Washington, United States, pastor Ghandi was chosen by kingmakers in Ogbomoso, and the governor’s name had been sent to him for approval. However, the governor hadn’t yet given his nod.
However, the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, Sheikh Teliat Ayilara, claimed in a video that our correspondent saw that he advised the governor during the previous Ramadan not to simply approve anyone without due consideration.
The Chief Imam expressed his gratitude to the governor for not approving someone who, in his words, “is not satisfactory to us.”
The Chief Imam could not be reached, 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 at the home of Segun Ogunwuyi, chief of staff to the governor of Oyo State, in Ogbomoso.
“With regard to the choice of a new Soun of Ogbomoso, I told the governor that he should not just approve anyone without due consultations,” the imam in the video said.
When I said that, the governor appeared not to understand me, but he actually did. In light of this, I thank our governor for refusing to approve anything that does not meet our standards.
When reached by our correspondent, Adegoke, the CAN zone chairman in Ogbomoso, expressed surprise at the Chief Imam’s remarks.
The man responded, “I was surprised by what he said; it shouldn’t be so. After being proposed by his ruling house, Gandhi was chosen by the kingmakers. Therefore, when we, the CAN members, heard that, it surprised us.
“That’s not accurate. We request that the governor make the announcement right away. I think the governor would have conducted an investigation since the ruling house approved his nomination.
The PUNCH had previously been informed by Chief Sobalaje Otolorin, the head of the kingmakers in Ogbomoso, that they had submitted a name to the governor and that the people were waiting for his announcement.
After about 48 years of rule, the last Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi, passed away on December 12, 2021, leaving the throne vacant.