NEWS
Olaoye Was Born To Be A King – Pastor Adeboye
General Overseer, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has disclosed having foreknowledge that the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye, was destined to be a king.
The revered pastor made the disclosure on Sunday in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
Recall that Olaoye was an RCCG pastor, in charge of the church’s branch, Jesus House in Washington DC, before being selected as the Soun of Ogbomoso when the stool became vacant following the death of Oba Jimoh Oyewumi, Ajagungbade III.
Consequently, Olaoye was installed as the 21st Soun of Ogbomoso in Oyo State in September and he is scheduled to be presented with the staff of office on Tuesday, December 19 by Governor, Seyi Makinde.
Pastor Adeboye spoke at an interdenominational thanksgiving service for the new Soun, at Beulah Baptist Conference, Ogbomoso.
According to Pastor Adeboye, he had always known that Olaoye was born to be a king, adding that God had a hand in his ascension to the ancient throne.
Public intrigue was ignited by the emergence of Olaoye, a pastor, as the Soun, which left not a few pondering how he would navigate the African traditional rites involved in the coronation of a Yoruba monarch.
However, Pastor Adeboye had expressed the view that Olaoye’s emergence as Soun had God’s backing and he could not stop it.
In his words, “I knew Olaoye was born to be king. When he (Olaoye) came to me to inform me about the development I told him to go and pray. He came back and said he had not heard anything.
“I told him to go back and pray again, and after a while, he came back and told me, ‘God has spoken. I have heard him loud and clear that I should go ahead’.
“It was then that I told him to go ahead because it had been destined. I knew that long ago but I wanted 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. So, I cannot stop him because Pastor Olaoye was destined to be a king even before he was born and thank God it is coming to fruition.”
Pastor Adeboye, who took his scripture from the book of Acts 15:18, advised the monarch to embrace the people and promote peace and unity among his subjects.
He subsequently anointed the king and his wife, praying for a peaceful and prosperous reign as Soun.
On his part, Oba Olaoye said, “I give the Lord all the glory for the day I met Pastor Adeboye. He has been a father to me. He is a spiritual father to me. He was a role model. I have travelled with him to every part of the world. I watched him closely and I saw a genuine man of God. So, he has been a role model to me. You can imagine how excited I am today (Sunday) that the person who anointed and laid hands on me to become a pastor is the same person who lays hands on me as a king today.
“This is a new season. I believe it’s a new dawn for Ogbomoso, where there will be an opportunity, this land shall be a land 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 a king to the Muslims, to the traditionalists and to every indigene of this land and make Ogbomosoland a place where sons and daughters can be proud.
“I pray for the grace and mercy to rule in the right way and do justice to everyone. I believe God will make this city a great city, the envy of many towns not only in this state not even in Nigeria but in the world at large.
“To the people of Ogbomosoland, I want to thank you all for the love you have been showing to me since I became the Soun of Ogbomosoland. Your love has been humbling to me and I will use all the networks that God has given me to help this city grow better.”
Special prayers were also offered by the President of Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev Israel Akanji; Bishop Titus Olayinka; Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu; Pastor J.S. Adegoke; Rev. Solomon Ademola Isola; former President of the seminary, Professor Nihinlola Emiola; Rev Stephen Ayankeye; Rev Bishop Moradeyo Olayinka; Bishop of Anglican Church, Rev Johnson Adeniji, Prophet Akintola, Baba Awoye among others.
NEWS
FG Aims to Finish Olobiri Museum in 2028
The Federal Government is committed to completing the the Oloibiri Museum and Research Centre (OMRC) by 2028.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, made the disclosure during an inspection of the project in Otuabagi, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Lokpobiri expressed pleasure with the pace of construction, adding that the facility would preserve the history of Nigeria’s petroleum industry while serving as a major centre for research, tourism and industry events.
“I am very happy that I came today to see what is going on here. This is a masterpiece. The main building itself is over 10,000 square metres,” the minister said, noting that the museum and research centre would provide Nigerians and international visitors with a better understanding of the origins and evolution of the nation’s oil and gas industry, including its achievements, challenges and prospects.
The facility, he further said, will also create opportunities for conferences, exhibitions, retreats and research activities in the petroleum sector, even as he praised the quality of the work done so far and Julius Berger’s pace of work at the site.
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The minister also emphasised that the Federal Government will continue to give financial support to the project to ensure seamless execution while pledging to maintain close oversight of the project through regular visits, including unscheduled inspections, and praised Julius Berger for the quality of work completed so far, just as he appealed to the host community to sustain their cooperation with the contractors and other stakeholders to guarantee the successful delivery of the project.
Speaking on behalf of the contractor, the Project Manager, Engr. Botha de Bruyn, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to delivering the project in line with approved specifications and timelines.
He said Julius Berger recognised the historical significance of the facility and would continue to work closely with the Federal Government, the project management team and the host community to ensure its successful completion.
De Bruyn also reiterated the company’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of quality, safety and professionalism throughout the construction process.
Providing an update on the development, the Project Director of the Oloibiri Museum and Research Centre, Architect Ladipo Lewis, said the project was conceived to recognise Otuabagi as the birthplace of Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
He explained that the facility would document and preserve the history, culture, environment and technological evolution of the oil and gas sector, while also serving as a hub for research, training and knowledge sharing.
Lewis disclosed that the project had attained over 15 per cent completion, with significant infrastructure works already executed.
International News
Tanzania in Mourning as President Samia Loses Husband
Tanzania is mourning following the death of Hafidh Ameir Hassan, husband of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who died on Monday while receiving treatment at a hospital in Zanzibar.
The death of Tanzania’s First Gentleman was officially announced by Vice-President Deogratius Ndejembi, according to the BBC.
Ndejembi said Ameir had been suffering from a heart condition and died at about 8am local time at the Emilio Mzena Memorial Hospital in Zanzibar.
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He added that funeral arrangements were underway in Kizimkazi, a village on Zanzibar.
Ameir, an agricultural academic, largely kept a low public profile and rarely appeared alongside his wife at official events.
He became Tanzania’s first First Gentleman after Samia assumed the presidency in March 2021.
The couple married in 1978, before Samia entered national politics, and had four children — three sons and a daughter.
Their daughter, Wanu Hafidh Ameir, is a politician and serves in Zanzibar’s House of Representatives.
Ruto, AU mourn First Gentleman
Kenyan President William Ruto expressed his condolences to President Samia and her family following the death.
In a message posted on X on Monday, Ruto said, “I have received with deep sorrow the news of the passing of Hafidh Ameir Hassan, husband of Her Excellency Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania.”
He added, “President Samia has lost a lifelong companion, her children a beloved father, and Tanzania a distinguished son.”
Ruto further said, “Kenya stands with our Tanzanian brothers and sisters in this moment of grief,” while praying for the bereaved family.
The African Union Commission Chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, also extended his condolences to President Samia, her family and the people of Tanzania.
In a statement issued on Monday, Youssouf said the AU conveyed its “deepest condolences” over the passing of Hafidh Ameir Hassan and wished the bereaved family “strength, courage and solace.”
The AU Chairperson also prayed for the peaceful repose of the deceased, concluding, “Inalilahi wainailehi rajiun.”
International News
US Fuel Crisis Deepens as Diesel Prices Hit Record High
The average price of diesel in the United States has climbed to a record high, adding to growing pressure on businesses and consumers as disruptions to fuel supplies continue amid the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), diesel prices reached a new record on Monday, rising by about 30 cents from the average recorded just one week earlier.
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Diesel is widely used in road transportation, agriculture and construction, making the sharp increase a major concern for truckers, farmers and other businesses that rely heavily on the fuel.
The latest surge comes as the ongoing conflict has disrupted tanker shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, contributing to tighter fuel supplies and higher energy costs.
Diesel prices have risen substantially compared with a year ago, when the national average stood at $3.71 per gallon.
The increase is putting additional financial pressure on farmers and trucking companies, which may eventually pass higher operating costs on to consumers.
The rise in diesel prices is also adding to broader concerns over the cost of living in the United States and could pose a political challenge for President Donald Trump ahead of the November midterm congressional elections.
Meanwhile, average regular gasoline prices also rose significantly, reaching $4.15 per gallon on Monday, compared with $3.20 a year earlier.
Fuel prices were even higher in some western states, with regular gasoline averaging $5.86 per gallon in California and $4.54 in Arizona, according to AAA.
The continued increase in fuel costs comes as millions of Americans travel during the Labor Day holiday period, potentially placing further pressure on household and business budgets.





