Soun, Alajaawa, Aale, Alaipo, Onisapa join Christians to mark Palm Sunday, Soun delivers ‘significant’ sermon
Jeremiah OYELEKE
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The 2025 Palm Sunday celebrated worldwide among Christians was graced by many traditional rulers and Christians from all churches and denominations in Ogbomoso, Oyo state on Sunday.
Traditional rulers who attended the event held at First Baptist Church Okelerin included the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III accompanied by his chiefs; the Alajaawa of Ajaawa, HRM Oba Thompson Oyetunji Adeyeye; Aale of Okelerin, HRM Oba Samuel Babatunde Amao; Onisapa of Isapa, HRM Oba Ezekiel Bolarinwa Olajide; and Alaipo of Orile-Aipo, HRH Oba Thomas Onaolapo Ajadi Oloyede IV.
Some others were Aare Alaasa of Ogbomoso, Onikose of Ikose Oba James Alagbe; Olubere of Ibere; Onilota of Ilota; Alabewo of Abewo; Alapo of Ogbomoso; Alaroje of Aroje among others.
The Soun who delivered a special goodwill message described Palm Sunday and the week leading up to Easter festival as the most significant celebration in Christendom, saying without it there wouldn’t have been basis for Christian religion.
Oba Ghandi, a former pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, asserted that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ form the foundation of Christianity and the hope of eternal life they have.
“This week is significant, it’s the most significant week in Christianity. Jesus Christ died without having a single sin so that you and I can have eternal life. If He did not die our faith will not be anything because there won’t be resurrection .He died so we can become blameless and be without sin,” the Oba said.
“Nobody can inherit eternal life while being a sinner because the Lord’s eye is too clean to behold any iniquity but by Jesus death our sins are taken away and we become blameless before God. And that is why today we can sit before the most High God and say we are His children.
“This is the most significant thing that separates us from every other religion because Jesus Christ died and rose. If He did not rise He would have been just like other humans.”
The monarch further observed the week has dual significance which he identified as sober reflection and excitement.
“I’s a week for reflection over His death yet it is supposed to be an exciting week that we need to celebrate because He rose to live again eternally and that is the reason for our excitement “.
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He therefore charged the congregation “never to lose the significance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. People die every day but as Christians we need to rejoice because we have eternal life due to the resurrection of Christ. Let’s take this with all seriousness.
“We have our hope in Christ. Hope without Christ is vain. Bible says, what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his life. This life is all vanity, the hope we have in Christ let’s hold fast to it and to always give thanks. Jesus Christ came to die and give us hope.”
Bishop Titus Babatunde Olayinka, Bishop of the Anglican Communion Ogbomoso Diocese, in his sermon titled, “The evidence of Jesus resurrection,” with texts from Mark 16: 1-15 and John 20:1-20, affirmed many events serve as evidence of Jesus Christ resurrection, urging Christ followers to remain steadfast in faith.
Coordinator of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ogbomoso zone, Rev’d Moses Adewale Adegbola, in a chat with ogbomosoinsightonline.com, recalled the joint celebration of Palm Sunday at a central location, started 8 years ago for twofold purpose.
“We conceived the programme to demonstrate the unity among Christians in Ogbomoso zone and to show our strength. This is in response to threats by some external religious fanatics who were threatening they would overrun Christians in the city. That is one but most importantly, to propagate the gospel of Christ.”
Rev’d Adegbola consequently charged Christians to continue to work to expand the kingdom of God through greater propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ just as he urged on unity and eschewing denominational rivalries.
Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem accompanied by waving of palm fronds following which He was killed a week after on trumped up charges though that was in accordance with the programme of God for salvation of mankind. On the the third day however He rose from the dead and ascended to heaven.
