Renowned clergyman and General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has explained why he did not stop a pastor in the church, Afolabi Olaoye, from aspiring to become the traditional ruler of his (Olaoye) town.
Pastor Olaoye was crowned as the 21st Soun of Ogbomoso, a town in Oyo State, South West Nigeria, on September 14 triggering fears that it could compromise his Christian faith.
He was the pastor of the “Jesus House” of the RCCG in Washington, United States before he was installed as king.
He succeeded Jimoh Oyewunmi, Ajagungbade 111, who died in December 2022.
Adeboye, who heads RCCG, the largest Pentecostal Church in Nigeria, said he refused to stop Olaoye from contesting for the kingship of Ogbomosho town because he was destined to be a king.
The cleric was responding to criticisms that trailed Olaoye’s coronation and his refusal to stop him (Olaoye).
“When he came to inform me about the development, I told him to go and pray,” Adeboye said at the interdenominational thanksgiving services for the traditional ruler held at Beulah Baptist Conference, Ogbomoso on Sunday December 17.
“Shortly after, he came back and said he has not heard anything and I told him to go back and pray again.
“After a while, he came back and said that God has spoken to him and have heard him loud and clear that he should go ahead.
“It was then that I told him to go because it has been destined. I know that long ago, but I want God to speak to him directly.
“To my critics, if I said No and God said Yes, whose word is the final, God of course.
“I cannot stop him because Pastor Olaoye was destined to be king even before he was born and thank God it is coming into fruition.”
Sermon, anointing
Drawing his sermon from Acts 15:18, Adeboye advised the traditional ruler to embrace his subjects in order to promote peace and unity among them.
He subsequently anointed Olaoye and his wife and prayed for the king to have a peaceful reign.
King speaks
Addressing the congregation, the king described Adeboye as his spiritual role model, adding that it is an unforgivable sin if he is reported to him.
“I give God all the glory for that day I met Pastor Adeboye for he has been a father to me. He is a spiritual father to me (and) and as a spiritual father he is my spiritual role model. He has been a father to me.
“I have travelled with him to every part of the world. I watch him closely and I see a genuine man of God. So he has been a role model to me. You can imagine how excited I am today that the person who laid hand on me to become a pastor is the same who anointed me when I became a king. It is an unforgivable sin if anyone reports me to Pastor Adeboye.
“To my people in Ogbomoso, let us work together, let us develop this land and let us make this land a place where our sons and daughters will be proud of. This is a new season. I believe it is a new dawn for Ogbomoso, a place where there will be opportunity. This land shall be where God Almighty will reign.
“I want everybody in this land to continue to pray for me that the Lord should lead me aright. I will rule with equity, justice and fairness. I will not be the king to Christians alone, I will be king to the Muslims, to the traditionalists and all over every indigene of the land and make Ogbomoso land a place where sons and daughters of Ogbomoso can be proud of.
“I pray for the grace and mercy of God to rule in the right way and do justice to everyone. I believe that God will make this city a great city, an envy of many towns, not only in Oyo State, not even in Nigeria but in the world at large.”
Group of clergymen offered special prayers for the king, Ogbomoso and Nigeria in general.