By Charles Akinbode
The governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has appointed Mrs. Aderonke Mary Oyebode, the new Iyaloja-General of Osun State.
Adeleke on Thursday, approved Oyebode’s appointment, according to a statement by the governor’s media aide, Malam Olawale Rasheed.
Oyebode will replace Madam Awawu Asindemade, who has been Iyaloja General since more than 12 years.
Describing the new Iyaloja General as “a strong leader of business women” in Osun State, the governor said she has contributed immensely to the growth and development of commerce.
The statement read in part: “We approve her appointment with all sense of responsibility and confidence in her ability to pilot the affairs of women in commerce for the collective prosperity of Osun state.”
In a swift reaction, Asindemade described her removal as illegal, saying she founded the market women association and it is being run like a Non Governmental Organisation.
In her words: “They only removed themselves and not me, I am not bothered by that development, because they can’t stop me from being the Iyaloja General, rather the one appointed as the new Iyaloja General is for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP.)
“I am still the Iyaloja General in Osun, while the new appointee is PDP’s Iyaloja General. It is no problem if the government decides not to relate with us, we have a government at the federal level.
“My position as Iyaloja General is not for a specific tenure. The government has no power to remove Iyaloja General. Our group is a Non-governmental Organization. I was the one that founded it.”
