In a Viral Video, Pastor Adeboye Says His In-Law and RCCG Pastor may Become Next Owa Obokun of Ijesaland

Though the final rites for the late Oba Adekunle Aromolaran II, the Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland, in Osun State, are yet to be concluded, the rank of those warming up to succeed him continues to swell by the day.

And the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has hinted that his brother-in-law and a Deputy Continental Overseer of RCCG in the United States, Pastor Bayo Adeyokunnu, is in a good position to be the next Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland.

A report by the Punch newspaper said that Pastor Adeboye dropped the hint that Prince Adeyokunnu may be a potential successor of the departed Oba Aromolaran, during his 70th birthday celebration at the RCCG, Victory Temple, in Bowie, Maryland, United States, on October 16, 2024.

Pastor Adeboye is reported to have declared in a video clip of the birthday celebration as declaring that:

“Like you have been told, he (Adeyokunnu) is a prince. You might think we are joking, but God might take your joke seriously, and your pastor may end up becoming the next king.

“I am also from Ijesaland, and in our tradition, we don’t speak English before the royal highness, so I will pray for him in English.”

Adeboye reportedly recalled his 60-year relationship with Adeyokunnu, describing the Prince as a prayer warrior and a committed Christian who had been born again under his ministry.

“I have known him before I married his sister,” Adeboye said, “and that has been about 60 years now. He is the first friend I had in the Adeyokunnu Family apart from my wife. He wasn’t a big man then, just the little Bayo, but we bonded quickly.

“He got born again under my ministry. I can still remember the sermon I preached that day, titled: ‘Come and Drink.’ He is still drinking till today. Every opportunity he had, he would want to get a little more. He is a warrior. He can pray anything out of you.”

If Adeboye’s statement becomes prophetic and it comes true, Prince Ayokunnu would be the second RCCG pastor from the United States that would ascend the throne of his forebears. The first being former RCCP Pastor, Prince Afolabi Ghandi Ọláoyè who was crowned the Soun of Ogbomoso in Oyo State a year ago.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, presented Oba Olaoye with his staff of office on Saturday, December 16, 2023.

Oba Dr. Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II joined his ancestors on September 12, 2024 at the age of 86.

Among the top contenders to the very important throne are: former Deputy Governor of Osun State, and Chairman, ENL Consortium Limited, Prince Clement Adesuyi  Haastrup; his younger brother, Oba Dr. Tayo Haastrup, Director, Information and Protocol Management, at the National Hospital, Abuja, and the Olumubi of Imubi-Ijesa; as well as Professor Stephen Gbadebo Adeyemi, a Professor of Pediatrics and former Chief Medical Director of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, also Minister of Health during the General Abdulsalami Abubakar’s reign as Nigeria’s military Head of State.