By Dapo Akinrefon

TENSION has gripped the Owu Traditional Council in Ogun State over the decision of Chief Ogooluwa Gbolahan Bankole to relinquish  the title of Olootu Owu due to unresolved grievances.

The aggrieved Chief Bankole, who is also chairman and chief Executive of Premier Paint plc, in a letter to the Olowu of Owu, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu disclosed that he “voluntarily relinquished the chieftaincy title with effect from 30th June, 2016 alleging that the council had ”tarnished his reputation and image in the public domain.”

It was gathered that trouble started when the monarch issued a strongly worded memo dispatched to  Owu Obas and Baales in Abeokuta, Ifo and Ewekoro area of Ogun state, warning that no Owu Oba or Baale or combined group of obas and Baales in any part of Owu kingdom- notably known Ibogun villages is approved to create an unknown chieftaincy of Balogun Gbogbogbo.”

The memo reads in part: “Information reaching the Owu palace in Abeokuta also confirms that the proposed installation of Chief Bankole will cause a breach of the peace. Consequently the proposed award is ordered cancelled.”

Besides, the Ogun State government and the Commissioner of Police were copied the memo, which caused a stir in the council.

A close confidant of Chief Bankole said the situation was worsened when it was suggested that the position was greater in rank than the Balogun of Owu held by the former Head of state, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and should not be allowed, especially as the villages were under the supervision of the Olowu.

In his letter, Bankole maintained that when the chieftaincy was conferred on him by five Obas of Ibogun land and the 34 Baales there-in, he accepted and then notified all the four Egba traditional Obas- Alake, Osile, Agura and Olowu.