Ogun Chiefs Warn Of Looming Crisis In Bode-Olude Over Baaleship Tussle between 2 Princes

By Oluwayemisi Oloyede

Emere Council of Chiefs in Bode - Olude Emere, Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State, has alerted the state government and security agencies of a looming bloodbath in the community following the Baaleship tussle between Chief Lateef Kolawole Sanyaolu and Chief Jimoh Olanrewaju Taiwo.

The Emere Council of Chiefs warned that if nothing was done quickly by relevant authorities to diffuse the gathering storm, what played out recently in a nearby community of Agodo in Ewekoro where the monarch, Oba Ayinde Adetola, and three of his aides were gruesomely murdered by hoodlums in his palace and burnt over chieftaincy related tussle, might reenacted in Bode - Olude Emere.

Addressing the press in Abeokuta, the state capital, to alert the world of the perceived imminent chaos, the Aro of Emere, Chief Monsuru Bankole, claimed that Chief Lateef Kolawole Sanyaolu is the authentic Baale installed and recognised by Emere Council of Chiefs led by Oluwo, Chief Micheal Sobowale but alleged amid lamentations that despite this, Chief Jimoh Olanrewaju Taiwo kept parading himself as Baale of the same community.

Chief Bankole claimed that the peace -threatening tussle between the Chief Lateef Kolawole Sanyaolu and Chief Jimoh Olanrewaju Taiwo over who is the legitimate Baale of Bode -Olude Emere started when one Chief Semiu Akinbile allegedly pronounced himself as Oluwo of Emere Council of Chiefs; the consenting authority to Bode - Olude throne and proceeded to make Chief Jimoh Olanrewaju Taiwo as the Baale.

He recalled that Justice N.O.Durojaiye of the state high court, Ota division had February 5th, 2022 in suit No. AB/242/2017 between Chief Micheal Sobowale and two others versus Chief Semiu Akinbile, declared the appointment of Chief Semiu Akinbile as Oluwo null, void and lacking basis in law.

He also recalled that they have written to ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs, the Police, Department of State Service(DSS) among others, calling them to help arrest the looming danger before it degenerates to bloodbath but said nothing tangible had been done to address the issue.

He expressed the fear that the people might resort to self - help as was the ugly case of Agodo community in Ewekoro if the relevant authorities and state government keep ignoring the looming bloodbath in Bode -Olude Emere over Baaleship tussle between the duo of Chief Lateef Kolawole Sanyaolu and Chief Jimoh Olanrewaju Taiwo.