Rolls Royce Rat Race: Traditional Rulers’, Pastors’ Brazen Opulence Amidst Poverty

In a nation plagued by poverty and a shrinking middle class, the stark contrast between Nigeria’s rich and poor is glaring. While a small elite enjoys extreme wealth, with lifestyles that rival global standards, millions live in extreme poverty. Despite being home to some of Africa’s wealthiest people, Nigeria is also the world’s poverty capital, with nearly 90 million people living below the poverty line, according to a 2023 World Bank projection.

This inequality is especially visible in the extravagant lifestyles of Nigeria’s traditional rulers and religious leaders, who should be society’s moral guides. Many flaunt their wealth through lavish homes, luxury cars, and other excesses, while their communities struggle to survive. Rolls Royce ownership, particularly among these leaders, has become a status symbol, with models costing up to a billion naira. Meanwhile, many Nigerians live on less than $2 a day, where even a modest sum could change their lives.

Olu of Warri, Atuwatse III inside his 2021 model Rolls Royce Phantom

LIST OF NIGERIA’S ROLLS ROYCE KINGS

1. Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan (Olugbo of Ugbo):
   The traditional ruler of Ugbo Kingdom in Ondo State is touted as one of Nigeria’s richest monarchs. The Obat Oil CEO struck gold in the oil and gas industry. His roots as an indigene of an oil-bearing community contributed to his success.
   He owns a 2012 Rolls Royce Phantom, estimated at $450,000 (approx. ₦742m). The car was famously customized to resemble the one Queen Elizabeth II of England owned.
2. Oba Ewuare II Ogidigan (Oba of Benin):
   Rolls Royce Phantom – $500,000 (₦825m)
   The former Nigerian Ambassador to Italy, entrepreneur, and traditional ruler of the ancient Benin Kingdom acquired a 2016 Rolls Royce Phantom for his coronation in October 2016, at a cost of $500,000.
3. Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ooni of Ife):
   Rolls Royce Phantom (2011 model) – $400,000 (₦660m)
   The traditional ruler of Ife, and one of the most revered traditional rulers in Yorubaland and Nigeria, is a business mogul and real estate tycoon. Apart from his white Spirit of Ecstasy emblemed Phantom, the Ife monarch owns a fleet of sports and exotic cars that would make many oil sheikh green with envy.
4. Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II (Emir of Kano):
   Rolls Royce Phantom (2016) – $500,000 (₦825million) and Silver Wraith (1952)
   Emir Sanusi, who was deposed and later re-turbaned as the Emir of Kano, is the Khalifa (leader) of the Tijanniyah Sufi order in Nigeria. Known for speaking his mind, he is also famous for his taste in luxury goods and exotic cars. His collection reflects both heritage and modern opulence.
5. Ogiame Atuwatse III (Olu of Warri):
   Customized 2021 Rolls Royce Phantom – $550,000 (₦907m)
   After a six-year wait to succeed his father, the young monarch marked his ascension to the throne by splashing nearly one billion naira on a Phantom and Bentley Bentayga 2021. Despite his wealth from numerous oil wells and facilities, including Chevron’s $9bn Gas facilities in Escravos, many Itsekiri communities still lack basic amenities and healthcare.
6. Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi (Oba of Ikate land):
   Rolls Royce Phantom – $450,000 (₦742m)
   Oba Saheed, a former police officer, reigns over one of the most valuable real estate areas in Lagos State. Located in Eti-Osa LGA, this land boasts affluent estates in Lekki and environs, with wealthy businessmen and technocrats. His fleet of cars reflects the affluence of his kingdom and his flamboyant lifestyle.

Pastors: Preachers with Prestige

While the extravagant lifestyle of traditional rulers may be a carryover from a time when the masses laboured for royal fathers, the overindulgence of Nigeria’s religious leaders deviates from the teachings of Jesus Christ, who exemplified leadership by washing the feet of his disciples.
Pastors brazenly display their wealth, even using it as motivation for their congregation members to give more in the form of tithes, offerings, and ‘seeds.’ Many pastors, who oversee large congregations, live lavishly, owning multi-million naira vehicles and even private jets, while their followers struggle with basic needs.

Pastor Oyedepo Stepping out of a Rolls Royce

PASTORS WHO ROLL IN ROLLS ROYCES

1. Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere (Omega Power Ministry, aka Doctor Jesus):
   Rolls Royce Phantom – Estimated Cost: $450,000 (approx. ₦742m)
   Apostle Chinyere is famous for his philanthropy, with dozens of tuition-free schools and free medical outreach programs for those in need. Despite rejecting a similar gift in 2017, he now owns a Rolls Royce Ghost.
2. Bishop Tom Sampson (Christ Royal Family Church):
   Rolls Royce Phantom – $450,000 (approx. ₦742)
   A former squatter, Bishop Sampson now commands a multibillion-naira church. As his wealth has grown, so has his appetite for luxury, including his Rolls Royce Phantom.
3. Pastor Alex Omokudu (Victorious Pentecostal Assembly):
   2019 Rolls Royce Cullinan SUV – $350,000 (₦270 million)
   Pastor Omokudu’s Cullinan is said to have been a gift, like many other luxurious items owned by prominent pastors.
4. Pastor Chris Okotie (Household of God):
   Rolls Royce Phantom – $400,000 (N660m)
   Pastor Okotie was one of the first pastors in Nigeria to own a Rolls Royce. Known for his unique preaching style and penchant for luxury, his Rolls Royce Phantom reflects his glamorous image.
5. Bishop David Oyedepo (Living Faith Church):
   Two Rolls Royce Phantoms – $450,000 each (₦1.5bn total)
   Bishop Oyedepo, one of Nigeria’s wealthiest pastors, owns multiple private jets and received two Rolls Royce Cullinan for his 70th birthday, allegedly from fellow wealthy pastors Bishop David Ibiyeomie and Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, who also own fleets of exotic cars, including Rolls Royce.
6. Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye (Redeemed Christian Church of God):
   Bulletproof Rolls Royce Phantom – $400,000 (₦660m)
   Pastor Adeboye’s RCCG is arguably the largest religious group in Nigeria, with branches worldwide. Despite advocating for tithes as a pathway to prosperity, over 60% of his church members live in stark contrast to the wealth surrounding him.

The Stark Contrast Between Wealth and Poverty

The ownership of Rolls Royces by pastors and traditional rulers in Nigeria underscores the extreme wealth disparity in the country. These luxury vehicles, costing more than the combined annual incomes of thousands of impoverished citizens, contrast sharply with the daily struggles of millions who lack necessities like food, healthcare, and education.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria is home to over 133 million multi-dimensional poor people. Despite this, elite figures continue to flaunt their wealth with Rolls Royce and other luxury goods, seemingly detached from the harsh realities faced by the average Nigerian.

The Rolls Royce has become a symbol of wealth and status in Nigeria, yet its presence among the nation’s leaders is a bitter pill for many to swallow. While the Rolls Royce represents only a part of the yearning disparity and inequality in the country, it speaks volumes of the squalor very evident in the nation in the midst of a select few living in plenty. The Rolls Royce dilemma gets even more complicated when one considers that many will be driven very few times given how much thrown at being a “proud” owner of one and ultimately that sooner than later these proud owners will need to buy a newer version to keep with trends. As Nigeria grapples with widespread poverty, the extravagance of its traditional rulers and religious leaders serves as a glaring reminder of the country’s deep-rooted inequality. This situation calls for a more equitable distribution of resources in a nation where the rich get richer, and the poor continue to suffer in silence.

NB: all costs are estimated