Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye: List of Princes Who Contested for Soun of Ogbomoso Crown and How RCCG Pastor Emerged
The late Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oyewunmi, joined his ancestors on December 12, 2012. And it is the turn of the Laoye family to produce his successor. This is according to the 1953 Soun Chieftaincy Declaration.
As expected, many sons of the family signified interest. The family was able to screen all interested applicants to a manageable number of three, but they could not settle on a consensus candidate, so they allowed the kingmakers to make the final selection, The Nation Newspaper reports.
Source: Facebook
Eventually, one of them, a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Jesus House Washington DC, United States (US), Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, got the nod of the kingmakers to be crowned as the next Soun of Ogbomoso.
Here is a list of the Laoye family who contended for the throne:
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Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye: Facts to know about RCCG pastor who has emerged new Soun of Ogbomoso
- Princes Gbolahan Idowu Oyegoke
- Sirajdeen Lawal Olaoye
- Tirimisiyu Gbolagade Bello
- Abayomi Isaac Jacob Oyewusi
- Gbadamosi Taofeek Lawal Olaoye
- Mohammed Gazali Jamiu Oyetunde
- Isiaka Oluwasegun Lasisi
- Ismail Kayode Olaoye
- Olabode Akeem Olayide Olaoye
- Musibau Adeniran Alimi
- Amusa Felix Bello
- Peter Olatunde Olaoye
- Abubakar Abduganiyu Akano
- Johnson Olusola Olaoye
- Taofeek Adeyemi Akorode Olaoye
- Olalekan Olaoye.
- Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye
- Badmus Babatunde Olaoye
- Abdulrahman Hamzat Adebayo
- Sirajdeen Akorode Olaoye
- Muhammed Nurudeen Bello Olaoye.
Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye: How an RCCG pastor emerged as Soun
Due to their inability to pick a consensus candidate from the contestants, they referred all of them to kingmakers for selection. About 18 of the candidates were reportedly shortlisted and invited for interview by the kingmakers to Ogunlola Hall, but others who were not invited joined them.
The kingmakers interviewed all of them with a representative of the Ogbomoso North local government under whose purview the throne operates attended the interview as an observer.
At the end of the interview, the contenders were screened to two. They are Lt. Col. Sirajdeen Laoye and US-based Pastor Afolabi Olaoye.
Then, the four kingmakers were said to have been divided over the two candidates. They opted for voting, and each candidate was supported by two kingmakers each, meaning a tie.
The head of kingmakers resorted to using his Casting Vote Right (power to have an additional vote) to resolve the tie. His vote went for the pastor; hence, he scored three, while the military officer scored two.
Soun of Ogbomoso and the kingmakers
Although the chieftaincy declaration stipulates that six members shall constitute the kingmakers' council, one kingmaker passed on about six weeks earlier while another one was at the time still in the process of having his installation as a kingmaker officially confirmed.
The declaration also stipulates that four council members shall form a quorum for decision-making but that the head of the council shall have an extra vote in case of a tie.
Pastor Olaoye’s name was subsequently forwarded to the local government for onward recommendation to the governor for approval.
Seyi Makinde approves Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye as Soun
Meanwhile, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has finally approved the appointment of Pastor Olaoye as the new Soun of Ogbomosoland.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Saturday, September 2, by the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters, Honourable Olusegun Olayiwola.
Source: Legit.ng
Aanu Adegun Aanu Adegun is a journalist with over 9 years of experience in both digital and traditional media. A graduate of English Studies from Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo state. Aanu joined Legit.ng in 2016 covering politics and current affairs. Aanu started his journalism career as a features writer. He once anchored some specialised pages of a national newspaper. You can reach him via - aanu.adegun@corp.legit.ng
Nurudeen Lawal (Head of Politics and Current Affairs Desk) Nurudeen Lawal is an AFP-certified journalist with a wealth of experience spanning over 8 years. He received his B/Arts degree in Literature-in-English from OAU. Lawal is the Head of the Politics/CA Desk at Legit.ng, where he applies his expertise to provide incisive coverage of events. He was named the Political Desk Head of the Year (Nigeria Media Nite-Out Award 2023). He is also a certified fact-checker (Dubawa fellowship, 2020). Contact him at lawal.nurudeen@corp.legit.ng or +2347057737768.
