How Pastor Ghandi Olaoye beat others to become new Soun Ogbomoso

By Samuel Adegoke

A United States-based pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, narrowly beat others to be picked as the new Soun of Ogbomoso.

Olaoye, whose name has been submitted to the Ogbomoso North Local Government, will succeed the late Oba Jimoh Oyewumi, who joined his ancestors on December 12, 2021.

The modern pastor, who is in charge of RCCG Jesus House, Washington DC, beat his closest rival, Lt. Col. Sirajdeen Olaoye, with one vote to emerge the new traditional ruler of the town.

Newspeakonline gathered that there are four kingmakers in Ogbomoso who had to vote to choose between the two Olaoyes because they dis not agree on who to choose between the two candidates who were considered best out of the 25 that joined the race. Two kingmakers voted for Sirajdeen and two voted for Pastor Ghandi. With the tie, the head of the kingmakers exercised his right for extra vote which he cast for Pastor Ghandi. The extra vote gave Ghandi the advantage he needed over Sirajdeen.

Ghandi, therefore, beat Sirajdeen and 23 others to become the new Soun of Ogbomoso.

The remaining contestants include Gbolahan Oyegoke, Tirimisiyu Bello, Abayomi Oyewusi, Gbadamosi Olaoye, Mohammed Oyetunde, Isiaka Lasisi, Ismail Olaoye and Olabode Olaoye.

Others are Musibau Alimi, Amusa Bello, Peter Olaoye, Abubakar Akano, Johnson Olaoye, Taofeek Olaoye and Olalekan Olaoye.

The rest are Badmus Olaoye, Abdulrahman Adebayo and Muhammed Olaoye.

Pastor Olaoye, who is also an entrepreneur, is married to Omo Ghandi-Olaoye.