RCCG pastor becomes paramount ruler in Ogun
on APRIL 14, 2012 · in NEWS
12:00 am
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ByDaud Olatunji Abeokuta
After four years of the demise of the Olu of Ilaro, late Oba Adekambi Tella, who joined his ancestors in 2008, a pastor in one of the Lagos branches of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle has emerged the new Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewa-Awori axis of Ogun state.

Saturday Vanguard however learnt that his candidacy which was unanimously supported by the kingmakers after an election where he won by a vote to defeat his close rival, Adedeji Olugbenle was approved by Ogun state Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun following his reported religious and moral uprightness.

Before he was chosen as Olu of Ilaro-elect, Olugbenle has been a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and has been observing the mandatory confinement ‘Ipebi’ which will eventually culminate in his coronation today, Saturday.

Reacting to the insinuation that the new Olu of Ilaro-elect was a member of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, the Chairman, planning committee of the coronation, Chief Thomas Lala, denied the Oba-elect’s affiliation with the ACN, saying, his choice as the new Oba had nothing to do with his affiliation with any political party.

He also denied that, the state government pressured on the kingmakers to chose Kehinde Olugbenle as the new Olu of Ilaro, saying, ‘six people contested for the vacant stool before his candidacy was approved by His Excellency, Governor Ibikunle Amosun’.

He said, “ our Oba is not a member of any political party. He is a member of all political parties because he is a father of all. The Oba-elect is not a civil servant. It was the kingmakers that carried out the processes before the government approved his candidacy” Lala said.

On the purported court injunction restraining the government from installing the new Olu of Ilaro-elect, the Chairman said there was no court restraint, urging all stakeholders and contestants of the stool to rally round the new Oba-elect for the development of the region.

During the coronation, which holds today, (Saturday), Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle would be presented with the staff of office as well as certificate of coronation by the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

And by the chieftaincy law in the state, the Olu of Ilaro is automatically the Paramount ruler of Yewaland, Olugbenle, a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has been observing the mandatory ‘’Ipebi” (confinement) which will eventually culminate in his coronation Saturday.

Ahead of coronation of a new Olu of Ilaro and the paramount ruler of Yewaland on Saturday, the ancient city of Ilaro, the political headquarters of Yewa is wearing a new look.

Oba Olugbenle who was quoted to have described his selection as God chosen while reacting to the perceived opposition to his choice, promising that his tenure would witness prosperous reign.

‘’He said for sometime now, unity appears to have eluded us for a long time and it is my desire that during my reign, I want to work for the unity of not only Ilaro, but the entire Yewaland.

‘’For me as the Paramount ruler of Yewaland, my choice is not accidental, but the choice of God, who knows better than all mortals”

The Ilaro town is already wearing new looks with banners, posters and various other decorations adorning different part of the town.

The coronation billed for today, Saturday will hold at the Gateway International Stadium, Ilaro, with reception later at the Empire Field with the duo of Ebenezer Obey who turned 70 last week and Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshall entertaining guests.

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