Gov. Adeleke, Ataoja of Osogbo Disagree Over Osun Iyaloja General Appointment
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, and the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, have disagreed over the appointment of the State Iyaloja General, the head of markets across the state.
The disagreement followed a viral video in which the monarch declared that Chief Awawu Asindemade, the Iyalode of Osogbo, had returned to the office of Iyaloja General of Osun State.
Asindemade previously occupied the position during the administrations of former governors Rauf Aregbesola and Adegboyega Oyetola before she was replaced by the Adeleke administration in 2023 with Mrs Mary Oyebode.
At an event where Asindemade was presented with the royal beads associated with the office, the Ataoja, speaking in Yoruba, said he had directed her to support Adeleke’s re-election in the August 15 governorship election and that she complied with the directive.
The monarch said, “I am the only person who can appoint the Iyaloja General.
“I told her (Asindemade) to stay calm and work for the re-election of Governor Ademola Adeleke and she did.
“Since she has done what I wanted, I have to do what she wants also. Now, I am returning her royal beads as the Iyaloja General. I want Governor Adeleke to be at peace with her.”
However, reacting to the development, Adeleke, through a statement signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, insisted that Oyebode remained the duly appointed Iyaloja General of Osun State.
The governor maintained that the authority to make appointments into offices such as that of the Iyaloja General rested with the state government.
“Any announcement from any other quarter, including the Osogbo Royal Palace, is null and void. Mrs Oyebode remains the legally appointed Iyaloja General under the authority of the state government,” the statement read in part.
Adeleke urged market associations and women across the state to disregard any purported appointment of another Iyaloja General, stressing that Oyebode would continue to enjoy the recognition and support of the state government.
The governor also appealed to institutions and individuals to respect their legal mandates and refrain from actions capable of disrupting the peace of the state.
Source: The Punch