Rev'd Niyi Adebayo holds interactive session with bloggers in Ogbomoso, hammers respect for royalty

Rev’d Niyi Adebayo holds interactive session with bloggers in Ogbomoso, hammers respect for royalty

Yinka ADETUNJI

Rev’d (Dr) Niyi Adebayo the lead pastor of True Worshippers Church Ogbomoso Tuesday held an interactive session with bloggers and content creators in Ogbomoso over some misunderstandings in the city while urging utmost respect for traditional rulers.

The meeting held at Jacob Adebayo Afolayanka Resource Centre (JAARC), Abaa, Ogbomoso, and which also was attended by Rev’d Peter Olaleye Special Assistant on Media and Community Relations to Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III, according to the convener, was to urge promotion of peace in the city, project Ogbomoso positively and refrain from hurling derogatory remarks on the throne or person of Soun or any other royal father in Ogbomosoland.

Adebayo who is also the director of Zoe Schools pointed out that bloggers and influencers had a big role to play in fostering amity through responsible contents while noting they could promote or support any party or individual they want to, without flying campaigns of calumny against others.

The clergyman reminded them of the need to be conscious of promoting news items that would drive investors away, cause religious crises and generally de-market Ogbomoso.

He advised the media influencers to also focus on repositioning the community for political elevation noting that making Ogbomoso greater should be their priority.

“No doubt, Ogbomoso has been in the news for various reasons in the past couple of months,” he stated in his address. “We have seen the good, the bad and the ugly. The more the city boils, the richer some people become. That’s no patriotism. The health of the city is more important than the wealth anyone gets from selling out his city. Everyone is writing history. Let me be clear: I didn’t invite you here to manipulate you in any way. I only want us to see how we can reposition our city in 2026 in such a way that it would be absolutely attractive to local and foreign investors. Ogbomosoland is the second largest city by landmass in the whole of Nigeria. We’re divinely positioned for development.

“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, please permit me to make the following appeals in the interest of posterity and for the sake of the progress of our city:

“Can we start to project our city objectively? Can we focus on the cultural and human endowments of this city and dissipate less energy on our shortcomings? Yes, we have our issues. Ibadan has her own. Abeokuta has her own. All of us are gifts to the city. The situation among some of our royal fathers is not something we are happy about. We are seriously praying for truce. We are talking to them in all sincerity. We will continue to speak the truth to them without insulting the hallowed stools they occupy. We will do everything to respect the dignity and sanctity of their persons and their stools. Late Gov Alao-Akala had some differences with the late Soun of Ogbomosoland. Yet, at no time did he rubbish that throne. Today, I appeal to you all to balance boldness with a first-class respect for our traditional institution. Let’s address issues and desist from insulting our royal institution. Bi onigba ba se pe igba re ni a n ba a pe. Same goes with elders and leaders of thoughts in our community. We don’t spite a nose by cutting it. Nothing thrives in the atmosphere of strives. Please, promote whoever you want to promote without hurling insults on the king or anyone. Kabiyesi has also not recruited anyone to abuse or cause confusion to the peaceful atmosphere of the city. His focus is development and the best way to support him is to project his development drives. Whatever roles you choose to play with the platforms and opportunities you have, history won’t forget.

“Political Engagements: 2026 will be a busy year in Nigeria politically. What are our plans as a people? What are our chances? I appeal to you to engage our political parties to field candidates with robust pedigrees. Let us have people who are parts of us and who will be accessible, responsible and patriotic. Money is not everything. Let’s engage the past and serving political office holders on social audits. What have they done to merit re-election? Let’s ask pertinent questions. Let’s educate the community. Let’s place the destiny of Ogbomoso above personal gains.

“On the final note, I can see that many of us love this city passionately. We want her peace and progress. We may need to review our strategies so we don’t spoil a good case with a bad approach. I want to appeal to you all to be careful with utterances that can plunge our city into religious wars. Let’s tread carefully on religious issues. No one has the right to abuse royalty. This time will pass but whatever each of you wrote and posted will not be forgotten. We should use our platforms to make Ogbomoso better and not bitter.”

Meanwhile, the parley did not include the conventional media.