One of the most ambitious Christian Obas in the Yoruba Southwest, an Apostle and a Senior Pastor that was, once upon a time, one of the leading contenders to succeed His Preeminence the Pope of the Evangelical Churches of Nigeria but now the General Overseer Dr. Enoch Adeboye of the Redeem Christian Church of God and the fastest- growing Church in the World,
You can quote me if you like. I am a father figure and an Elder by age and by experience at the Redeem Christian Church of God in Brooklyn New York under Provincial Pastor Revd Kunle Omotosho and our most senior Regional Pastor Revd Daniel Adeniran of the Bronx Parish of the Church.
I also happen to be the husband of Pastor Mrs. Rachel OluwaSefunmi Akintide Nee Abisola who had started, the Brooklyn Parish in my little Apartment at the Rutland Plaza in New York, the little Church Fellowship that later metamorphosed into the Brooklyn Parish of the Church now ably led by Pastor Kunle Omotosho and Mommy Felicia Omotosho.
So I know what I am talking about when I describe former Pastor Olaoye Ghandi the founder of Jesus House in Silver Spring, Maryland as one of the top contenders to succeed G.O. Enoch Adeboye from Ifewara in Nigeria.
I know precisely what I am talking about and you better believe me.
I was surprised that Pastor Olaoye Ghandi whom I have known from his youthful days in Akure, would simply leave such a lucrative job in the United States where he was paid in Dollars to go become the Soun of Ogbomosho where he would be paid a chicken change in Naira and where he would now have to become the leader of not just the Christians in Ogbomosho but also the putative leader of the Muslims in a predominantly Muslim City and also the leader of the Isese comprising of the “Ogbonis” and the “Osugbos” that openly worship Egungun “Danafojura” the most prominent Egungun in the Pantheon of the Ara Orun in Ogbomosho Land.
I just didn’t get the logic or the rationale at the time but now I got it.
Oba and Apostle Ghandi had just gone to become a more powerful Prayer Warrior for Jesus pretty much like the Saul of Tarsus who later became the greatest champion for Christianity and Christiandom in the fullness of time.
My proof of that was his recent visit to the President of the Republic in Aso Rock and how the Giant of a King and an achiever of no mean caliber had really gotten the ear and the attention of Mr. President to take a quantum leap for Ogbomosho better than anyone I have seen.
I have seen many a Royal Father pay a Courtesy visit to Mr. President but I am yet to see one who has received as much attention and as many standing ovations for his amazing speech delivered in style and with pomp and pageantry than the one delivered by Oba Ghandi Orumogege the Third who performed for the President pretty much like the legendary “Danafojura”Masquerade that not even the President and the Asiwaju of Lagos and the Jagaban of Borgu could ignore
From now on any royal father with enough prestige and gravitas and visibility to be welcomed to Aso Rock would have to learn something from the great Soun of Ogbomosho, “Oba Nla to nfoba je. Omo Elehinkule atowire. Ekun ta giri gbera re n’Ija, Ekun tan ni keremu. Odigho Obarisa to borrow a cliche from Ogho Made n’Ie Olowo Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye the Second.
Soun Ogbomosho has clearly shown the way for other royal fathers to follow like a true leader he has always been from the cradle.
I rest my case.
Om’Oba Dr. Wumi Akintide.
