Müyesser Yıldız wrote it on June 30: General Zekai has become the Chairman of the OYAK Board of Directors
Journalist and 12punto columnist Müyesser Yıldız reported on a development days in advance that is being considered a surprise. Zekai Aksakallı, who was the Special Forces Commander (ÖKK) during the July 15 coup attempt, has been appointed to lead an institution that manages billions of liras in resources, such as OYAK.
12punto
Zekai Aksakallı, who was the Special Forces Commander during the July 15 coup attempt, is back in the spotlight following a notable appointment after a 5-year hiatus. Aksakallı has been appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Armed Forces Assistance and Pension Fund (OYAK).
In an email sent to OYAK employees, it was stated: "(Ret.) Maj. Gen. Mehmet Taş, who has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors since 2016, has handed over this valuable duty to (Ret.) Lt. Gen. Zekai Aksakallı as of July 2."
This appointment to the head of OYAK, which operates under the Ministry of National Defense and encompasses dozens of companies with a value of billions of liras, took place just 1.5 months after the institution's 65th General Assembly. Retired Major General Mehmet Taş, who had been serving as the Chairman of the OYAK Board of Directors since 2016, had continued in his post following the General Assembly held on May 17. However, with the latest decision, this duty was transferred to Aksakallı.
MÜYESSER YILDIZ HAD WRITTEN ABOUT IT DAYS IN ADVANCE
Journalist and 12punto columnist Müyesser Yıldız had penned a column regarding this development, which is considered a surprise, and had known days in advance that Aksakallı would be appointed to this position.
Here is what Yıldız reported in her column:
HAS HE BEEN APPOINTED TO HEAD OYAK?
During the process following Zekai Aksakallı's retirement due to lack of a position 5 years ago, various claims were made such as "he is about to head SADAT" or "he is becoming an advisor to the Palace"; however, none of them turned out to be true.
Now, a new claim is on the agenda. It is reported that Aksakallı has been appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Armed Forces Assistance and Pension Fund (OYAK), the mutual aid and pension fund for TSK members, and that he will begin his duty within a few days.
If true, it is an interesting choice for OYAK, which operates in many sectors from mining-metallurgy to cement, concrete, and paper, from automotive to logistics, and from chemical-agriculture to energy and finance, with over 130 companies and more than 38 thousand employees.
Specifically, retired Major General Mehmet Taş has been serving as the Chairman of the OYAK Board of Directors since 2016. Taş had continued his duty even after the 65th General Assembly meeting held on May 17.
There must be an important reason for this change 1.5 months later.
Considering that the management of OYAK, which operates under the Ministry of National Defense, is almost entirely determined by the Ministry of National Defense and the General Staff; there are those who interpret the choice of Zekai Aksakallı as a move by Minister Yaşar Güler against Hulusi Akar, who is rumored to want to be a minister again, and there are also those who say, "Aksakallı is having his reputation restored after 5 years!"