The Rev'd Peter Olaleye l know

The Rev’d Peter Olaleye l know

Femi OGUNLANA

My path first crossed Rev’d Peter Olaleye’s in about November 2003. Since then, we have been together. We have gone through thick and thin together because shortly after we formed acquaintance, he joined Ogbomoso Insight as a newspaper’s sales person. But his energy, aggressiveness and hunger for success made him rise through the ranks. He drove adverts in quantum and only few who ever worked for the publication surpassed him. He remains one of the topmost performers in our history. Where others hold back to venture into he penetrates and brings out good returns. He is such a valuable addition. He is unstoppable, and his passion continues to drive him. He brought adverts and sponsored stories (and still does) from far and wide, beyond the shores of Ogbomoso with relish. But it got to a point Ogbomoso Insight could not solely satisfy his insatiable appetite for operation, and he was poached literally by The Issues magazine, an Ogun State-based publication. Naturally, we should have parted ways but we have continued to maintain good relationship and he worked for the two magazines concurrently, after all, we never signed an agreement, and because at The Insight, we believe in the dictum – “Live and let live.” Also, the sky is vast for all birds to fly. He is forever accommodated within our establishment. And he is still a part of us.

But one good thing is that we never had cause to disagree over money – newspaper sales money or advert income. There have never been discrepancies in his dealings to make him a suspicious fellow as far as his association with The (Ogbomoso) Insight is. He is honest and trustworthy. We never had cause to doubt him.

From his activities with Ogbomoso Insight he got to know people. His potentials were developed, he grew in boldness and tact and became more daring helped further by his commanding presence. He never got salaries from us, only few ever. He earned through commissions – sales and adverts. He gained in knowledge and experience and he studied. He sought people (big people) to work with and people sought him to bring him into their spheres. When he believes in something or a cause, he brings dedication, passion and innovation to bear. Many never wanted him to leave them, but circumstances often make him to move on. He is a man who likes to seek new adventures. But he is always stubbornly loyal. From what l know many will pay to have him work with them. He is highly courted.

He became a pastor, studied at the Baptist Seminary. He founded a Baptist church affiliated with the Nigerian Baptist Convention. And got a bigger church to adopt it, he was not bothered about salary, he fended for himself and family through hardwork. He associated with different men/women of God in different ministries at different times, they all valued him, but he is not a person to remain in one place for long. That is his God-given nature. Though after moving on, he is never in the habit of denigrating or back-mouthing those from whom he rose.

Then, community service caught his fancy, and became the president of Ogbomoso Community Youth Forum (OCYF). I wondered at the time how he emerged president amidst a preponderance of professionals, former unionists, academics and so on who are members of the group. But that is how it’s. He devoted his life to community service using the platform of OCYF. He will be remembered for his selfless efforts. How he led his men to repair the Caretaker – High School axis of Ogbomoso trunk A road in 2022 leading to soldiers in transit beating him for road obstruction. How he led the struggle for improved welfare for students of the Blind Centre leading to those he exposed tearing his clothes. How he prevented suspected thieves carting away pipes at Ogbomoso Water Works. How he championed the struggle against the extortionist tendencies of, and cheating by NEPA (IBEDC) in Ogbomoso. How he led the campaign through a massive street protest against increasing wave of banditry and kidnappings in Ogbomoso especially after the kidnapping and murder of an hotelier at Aroje/Abaa. How he championed campaign against the relocation of LAUTECH’s Faculty of Agriculture out of the permanent site. How he worked assiduously to help restore peace to Ajaawa few years ago. How he often mobilises conventional and non-conventional security agencies for security purposes in Ogbomoso, an example is bringing a combined team of security agents from Ibadan few years ago when it was rumoured bandits and terrorists had set up a base in Ayegun – Yemetu area in Surulere and Ogo-Oluwa local government areas, staying in the front with the soldiers imperiling his life as the security agents combed the bush. How he birthed the idea of Ajilete University almost at the same time with the Ogbomoso Academics now championing the cause of Ogbomoso University to which he is a member on the basis of his groundbreaking efforts such as in securing locations. Health outreaches he has organised. Scholarships he has awarded. He has been a pivot to many to strengthen their businesses and get them more entrenched. He has done many things selflessly in contributions to the progress and development of Ogbomosoland. He is unrepentantly an Ogbomoso bigot.

He is a man of idea and never a yes man. His huge stature opens doors for him and his persuasiveness is often a key to unlock people’s heart. Many have used him in this wise, and so, when he leaves them some hold grudges, not all people have a large heart like The Insight. Ans so, many brand him treacherous.

Then came Prince Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye. He jumped in the train, and awed by the intimidating profile of Pastor Ghandi, like many, he worked beyond limit like several others too, to make Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III happen. The Oba brought him close and made him his media aide and community relations officer – Special Assistant on Media and Community Relations. After all, Ogbomoso Insight platform played a little role too in the struggle for the making of Oba Ghandi. There is no doubt Olaleye performs his duties to the best of his ability serving the progressive monarch. He commits his time, energy, money and resources, after all, he has no paid job aside pastoring a church and he is not the first clergyman that will be so involved in community or national service. Everyone has different calls. He makes his contributions to the fullest.

So, naturally, his activities aroused envy and he easily became a target to bring to his knees. He has his weaknesses though like everyone else, such as his showy, bodacious attitude. In the same vein, some believe that his association with Oba Ghandi has created a money vault for him. Many aspire to gain inroad into the palace through him, but that is a favour beyond his capacity to grant and such also marked him for destruction. His enormous battle mode at the height of the Chief Imam’s altercation with the Soun, also provoked enemies.

It is thus obvious he becomes a target to be mowed down and alienated from the Kabiyesi. The irony is that many who are against him cannot commit themselves to a quarter of what he shoulders. They don’t have the capacity, they don’t have the allegiance. They don’t have the devotion. But they just want to bring him down. Then, what? Many youth groups constituted themselves into rivals in the past but they don’t have the wherewithal, they couldn’t accomplish what he led OCYF to do. Instead of striving to make their own mark they will devote the little capabilities they are endowed with (or they could muster) to fight him. And many have faded away today.

The campaign is rife presently to bring him down. They are discrediting, castigating him ruthlessly on the social media. Allegations of fraud, cupidity for wealth and so on are peddled against him. Displaying all manners of evidences. Perks that flow to leadership like personal gifts they now label fraudulent. I know him as someone who would spend his money to achieve collective interests. But it is one of the things being used against him now to denigrate him. Personal money he committed and recouped is being brandished against him also as evidence of graft.

Photographs like these arouse envy against him

It is typical Ogbomoso anyway, we always seek to bring down people enjoying the limelight because of our excessive envious nature. We now couple “misdeeds” together allegedly committed by our target and exaggerate them sounding sanctimonious as if we are ourselves saint. Many have faced such Ogbomoso malaise in the past and many are still facing it. It is a disease deeply entrenched. Infact, Ogbomoso is regarded as the place where petition is most written. We pontificate, justify our actions. In a twinkle we turn good people (or relatively good people) into villains. The sad thing however is that, as l mentioned, they could not do a quarter of what the person they want to destroy do. They will not do it, they cannot do it. They now help to create a vacuum that won’t be easily filled. They did it to late Chief Alao-Akala, but have they been able to rise to the position since then? I also remember the case of Senator Fatai Buhari. In the 2000s, he picked interest in Crown FC (being a former player of the club), spent some ₦10m personal money to help the club prosecute the league that year but later government released fund to the club, he recouped his money and he was accused of misappropriation. It led to litigation. Something must have been killed in Buhari as far as interest in the club is concerned by that experience. That is our way in Ogbomoso, we are insensitive, easily provoked to envying. It’s a major bane of our development. We cry of lack of development forgetting our actions and inactions are contributory factors. Good people are often wary of stepping out because in the end envious people would exploit their weaknesses, manipulating such to expose them to ridicule and throw them off.

It is the same with Rev’d Peter Olaleye presently. All these hullabaloo is conspiratorial. Why should a club thing be turned into a public issue? Isn’t there internal mechanism to resolve such issue or apply disciplinarian measures? The mere intensity in making it a social media affairs shows the conspiracy behind it. Moreover, these are issues that happened not this year or last year or two, three years ago but have suddenly been made an issue blown out of proportion. He is accused of arresting people, why wouldn’t he if he felt his rights being impinged upon or his personality being impugned? In the face of defamation he reported to the police, is there any wrongdoing in that? If the court throws out the matter what is the big deal! He is not the first to take matter to the police when offended or when defamatory plots are being hatched or committed against them and the police are bound to investigate which will involve inviting the defendants.

With former General Secretary of NBC Rev’d Dr Ademola Ishola

With one of his tutors at the Baptist Seminary Ogbomoso

Rev’d Peter Olaleye is just another victim of pull-him-down syndrome. I am not saying he is a saint or has no fault but we all have dirts in our armpit like they say. He professes to be a pastor but l don’t think he ever claims to be a saint. Many are casting stones today against him but how pious are they too? “He who has no sin should cast the first stone,” is what Jesus Christ said during an adultery adjudication.

The simple fact is that Rev’d Olaleye’s episode is all conspiracy, poorly hatched shenanigans, invalid orchestrations. They want to alienate him from Kabiyesi for obvious reasons.

Even if that happens, the Rev’d Peter l know will still survive, shine and prosper. He is a tornado who will always make a path for himself.

In closing I choose to “judge” him by his good deeds for Ogbomosoland and for His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III, the Soun of Ogbomosoland and not by the alleged misdeeds. It will be evil to cast him aside, sacrificing him on the altar of subterfuge.

Appendix

1. Extract from a speech he delivered at the education summit to inaugurate Ogbomoso University. The gathering was attended by the who-is-who in Ogbomoso.

AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY REV PETER OLALEYE, PRESIDENT, OGBOMOSO COMMUNITY YOUTH FORUM (OCYF) AT THE EDUCATION SUMMIT ON THE FOUNDING OF OGBOMOSO UNIVERSITY, HELD SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 2023, AT OGBOMOSO RECREATION CLUB.

At the summit

The idea of the founding of a privately-owned university in Ogbomoso is incontrovertibly an idea whose time has come. To have come up with this proposal is therefore commendable. It embodies many advantages which I wouldn’t bother this august enlightened audience with. However, I will like to mention that the project stands to further entrench the name Ogbomoso in the global educational map and more importantly unfolds greater opportunities for our young ones to receive university education aside offering a broader source of employment. With it materializing, our beloved Ogbomoso will never remain the same. My conviction and belief in the project soars high and I see it as a feasible proposal. If it is not feasible the idea wouldn’t have been conceived and birthed. That we conceived it and triggered its realization is enough assurance that it is within the realm of achievement.
It is a task that must be done, it is a duty imposed inescapably on this generation of Ogbomoso indigenes; I see it as “our mandate,” “our destiny” which we dare not recoil from. Each generation from the time of our forefathers has had its accomplishments: a generation pioneered settlement in this former jungle making it an attractive habitation; another generation welded it into a town entrenching a 1000 year dynasty; another safeguarded it with the last drop of its blood to prevent it being taken over by rampaging invaders from the north; yet a generation facilitated its civilization and modernization all combined; and a succeeding one opened it up for infrastructural development and many more which has become a source of pride we savour today.
Ogbomoso is the famed city of the valiant remarkable for extraordinary feats. This is this generation’s extraordinary feat beckoning. It is a daunting task but we must not shirk it if the baton of bravery Ogbomoso is known for will not break. When Ogbomoso passionately goes after a mission we accomplish it, only on very few occasions did we fail. We will not fail in this, I am confident. I want to charge us let’s see this project as a project that must be guided to fruition. When we see it in that perspective then it is 50 percent accomplished already. There is a saying that “whatever the mind perceives and believes can be achieved.” Let us believe this, let us breathe it, let us visualize it and the pathway to achieve it will gradually unfold. It is enormous but in the face of strong unshakable faith we will accomplish it.
It will better be done when we all think as one, when we mobilize ourselves to achieve it, when we bring many people on board to see the possibility. Let us cast ourselves in the mould of …… (passage in the Bible) and not as Tobiah, Samballat and …). With faith we will accomplish it. The destiny of Ogbomoso is to be ahead of its contemporaries, this has manifested several times we want to see it manifest in this our time too. But it requires our sacrifices, efforts, financial cum moral commitment and belief.
I am of the conviction that this gathering will deliberate and come up with a workable modality for its accomplishment. Thereafter, we will be able to engineer the proper mobilization chart. One challenge I meanwhile want to throw is that let us mobilize ourselves individually first and then we gradually expand to inspire a community to accomplish the noble goal.
This august audience I want to state this is my humble submission.
Thank you.

The following are also shots from the summit:

Gen Oladayo Popoola rtd

Now late Justice Afolabi Adeniran rtd

Prof Timothy Lagbemiro, who served as Vice Chancellor of two universities for 19 years and president of Ogbomoso Academic Group championing the establishment of Ogbomoso University with OCYF

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Photographs showing a few of the other interventions he made as head of OCYF

Donation of signage post to Federal Polytechnic Ayede

Soliciting jobs for Ogbomoso youths from Chief Sunday Dare

Peace meeting with Fulani herders

He received awards for his meritorious services to Ogbomoso Community

An engagement he facilitated with the IBEDC

One of his interventions in numerous road repairs in Ogbomoso

Another award

During his intervention at the Blind Centre, he is here with now late Hon Temilola Adibi

He actively participated in the burial programme of late Chief Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala

Peace meeting he facilitated in Ajaawa at the residence of Gen Oladayo Popoola in Ibadan

He led in the road repairs at Caretaker area in 2022

Actively involved in the road repairs at Caretaker area in 2022

With Chief Sunday Dare

A boy wounded by the soldiers travelling through Ogbomoso when he led in the communal rehabilitation of Ogbomoso trunk A road. He too narrowly escaped being brutalized in such manner. But he was beaten

Road repairs efforts. Drainage evacuation here

Brought security agents from Ibadan using his contacts and efforts to ascertain presence of bandits in Ogbomoso forests. It was found not to be true and this calmed nerves

He facilitated peace meeting with the butchers association and men of OYTMA

During his intervention at the Blind Centre, he was later attacked

Mammoth crowd at the anti-kidnapping protest in Ogbomoso

No to banditry in Ogbomosoland. BBC also reported it. He made it happen

No to kidnappings protest

With late Hon Temi Adibi at the Blind Centre

Peace meeting he organised among OPC factions in Ogbomoso

Road repairs intervention

Scholarship award to a pupil

Another road repair intervention

Peace meeting he facilitated when Ajaawa boiled few years ago. With Dr Saka Balogun (right) are the chief combatants

Presents award to Aale of Okelerin Oba Samuel Babatunde Amao

In a tete-a-tete with Aale of Okelerin

Road intervention effort with one of his comrades

No bandit in Ogbomoso’s intervention

Peace meeting between butchers and OYRTMA

No bandit operation

Aale also attended anti-kidnapping protest

He championed the cause of the visually impaired persons

Homage to immediate past Soun late Oba Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III

Ogbomoso University message he delivered during Ogbomoso Parapo AGM

A section of the road he caused to be repaired through communal efforts.

Intervention at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital

No to banditry

Few years ago Iluju near Ogbomoso erupted in crisis after men of Operation Burst carried out an operation in the town. Peter Olaleye led his men to restore sanity