The Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, has made a U-turn on the controversy surrounding the Iyaloja-General of Osun State, declaring that Chief Awawu Asindemade is not the Iyaloja-General.
The clarification comes days after the monarch and Governor Ademola Adeleke disagreed over the rightful occupant of the position.
HERALDSUN reports that Oba Oyetunji had announced the reinstatement of Asindemade as Iyaloja-General, insisting that he remains the only person empowered to appoint the occupant of the position.
“I am the only person who can appoint the Iyaloja-General. I told her 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 Awawu Asindemade’s royal beads as the Iyaloja-General,” the monarch had said in a video.
But Governor Adeleke, in a swift response through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, denounced the announcement, reaffirming Mrs. Mary Oyebode as the legally appointed Iyaloja-General.
“Only the state government is vested with the authority by law to appoint the Iyaloja-General. Any announcement from any other quarter, including the Osogbo Royal Palace, is null and void,” the governor had stated.
However, in a new twist on Monday, the Ataoja recanted his earlier position, saying that he never pronounced Asindemade as Iyaloja-General of Osun.
The monarch, while addressing the media in his palace, explained that he only engaged Asindemade to coordinate market women for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.
“I was asked to be the Chief Host for those coming to work for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in Osogbo, and I chose Alhaja Awawu Asindemade to coordinate the market women because she is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and she knows the way.
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“That was what I did. I did not pronounce Asindemade as the Iyaloja-General of Osun State. Asindemade is the Iyalode of Osogbo and former Iyaloja-General of Osun State. I am supporting the person whom Governor Adeleke appointed as the Iyaloja-General,” Oba Oyetunji said.
The monarch also reaffirmed his loyalty to the Adeleke administration.
“I will never be rude to the government of Governor Ademola Adeleke. The governor announced to the world that he is my son, and if he has said that, I am also supposed to take him as my child. He should not allow busybodies to come between us,” he added.
