• Govt’ll assist in rebuilding house, says Ajimobi
The furore over the partial demolition of Music House owned by popular gospel artiste Yinka Ayefele generated much fury, especially among his admirers. But the dust has settled quickly, thanks to the intervention of the Alaafin of Oyo and other traditional rulers and the governor’s generosity of spirit. YINKA ADENIRAN reports
When the Oyo State government deployed bulldozers to demolish the Music House owned by musician Yinka Ayefele, the action depressed many. The Music House, which has become one of the most popular buildings in the ancient city of Ibadan since it was erected around the Challenge bypass 10 years ago, is home to Fresh FM, arguably the most followed radio station in Ibadan.
However, unknown to many, the issue that led to the demolition had been on between the government and the owner of the property for more than a year.
While many think the issue that led to the partial demolition was prejudicial and political, the government said it has no personal issue with Ayefele or his Fresh FM but that the action was to champion the of rule of law and respect for the laws of the land.
The demolition
The location of the station has been a subject of controversy in recent times, with the management of the station and the Oyo State government having divergent opinions, even as the government had warned that it would demolish the building.
Before the Sunday incident , a notice of demolition was said to have been served on the owner of the building. Three days after, the government demolished part of it.
Protest and knocks
Residents of Ibadan, especially fans of the Ibadan-based radio station stormed the Aare Arisekola Alao Way, Challenge, Ibadan, could not hold back tears on seeing the building in ruins.
The value of the property was said to be N800 million, aside N28 million worth of transmission equipment.
Prominent individuals who visited the station earlier included governorship candidate for Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, who was said to be in transit to Lagos when he witnessed the demolition exercise, Oyo State governorship aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Seyi Makinde, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin (ADC), Sharafadeen Aliu (ADC), a former Deputy Governor of Oyo State and ex-Nigerian Ambassador to Jordan, Taofeek Arapaja, a member of the House of Representatives from Ibadan North East/South East Federal Constituency, Mr Dapo Lam-Adeshina, Olusegun Olaleye, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, among others. They were alleged to have condemned the action of the government, describing it as callous.
The genesis and govt’s position
The Oyo State government has insisted that no amount of sentiments or emotional outburst can suppress the “well-established facts that necessitated the partial demolition of the building”.
The government, which spoke through the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Toye Arulogun, his counterpart in the Ministry of Justice, Mr Seun Abimbola and the Director-General, Bureau of Physical Planning and Development, Alhaji Waheed Gbadamosi, said at a press conference reeled off the number of times it sent letters to the management of the building. In the letters, they said, owner of the property was requested to regularise the building plan of the Music House and radio station permit having violated regulations. The letters, they claimed, were ignored.
According to them, on June 14, last year, a letter requesting planning approval of the building was sent to the property owner, just as same was sent to several other owners of buildings in the state, including other radio stations.
A reminder letter dated August 18, 2017, was also sent to the property owner and that when the approved plan was eventually sent in; Gbadamosi said the plan was not in tandem with the original approval in some ways, including the conversion to a radio station.
“The approval submitted deviated significantly from what is on the ground,” he said.
Gbadamosi added: “The submitted building approval was actually meant for an office complex and not a radio station, thereby contravening the Oyo State Physical Planning and Development Control Laws by deviating from the approved plan which, in effect, makes the approval null and void because deceitful information was given to the approving authority and also deviation from the approval granted both in construction and use.”
Gbadamosi recalled that a letter was sent to the property owner on June 29, 2018, requesting submission of an application for a fresh building plan that will reflect the existing structures. He alleged that the radio house “deliberately ignored the letter as there was no response from their end till date.”
He said the partial demolition was carried out on Sunday because the management of the Music House deliberately ignored government’s request.
On the allegation that the demolition was a vendetta for the radio’s airing of a comment alleging that Governor Abiola Ajimobi has an interest in the Ibadan Central Abattoir, Arulogun reminded reporters that the letter requesting Music House to submit a fresh application was delivered on June 29 while the comment was made on June 30, 2018. He pointed out that government could not have acted on a comment that was not yet made.
The commissioner emphasised that the government was following the law of the land for the safety of the people.
Counter-claim by Ayefele
However, Ayefele has a divergent view to the government’s position. He insisted that the building did not contravene any building law because it has the necessary approvals from relevant government agencies.
In a statement Ayefele issued to counter government’s claim, he said: “We want to make it clear that Music House followed due process in its construction and got relevant approvals from state departments and agencies associated with lands and buildings. Blaming three accidents that occurred on the road in the last nine months on the Music House Complex is just an attempt by the Commissioner to run away from his shadow.
“Governor Ajimobi had said some politicians had advised him to demolish the Music House Complex because Ayefele is not in their camp and he also sang against them. We have the Governor on tape.
“So, the Commissioner should look for another excuse. We know it is the Commissioner that is misinforming the Governor who we hold in a very high esteem. The Commissioner has tried in the past to influence a change in our programmes, saying some of our analysts should be replaced.
“We want the public to know that Music House has not, in any way, contravened any building plan law as the Commissioner had claimed. Music House has existed for almost 10 years and we have all the necessary documents from relevant government agencies to back our position. “Some questions we need to ask the Commissioner are: Why is the government collecting tenement rate from us when they know we contravened building plan law? Why did the government approve the building plan when they know it will contravene the state housing law? “The Commissioner should tell us why the state is just realising that the Music House building is the cause of accidents along this road. Perhaps, it is also responsible for accidents on Ring Road and other parts of the state.”
Reconciliatory moves
Despite the week beginning on a sordid note, by Thursday, there were signs that amicable resolution of the matter was in sight. the Governor, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and Ayefele met behind closed doors for hours.
The meeting was said to have been brokered by a leading governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Joseph Tegbe, who also led Ayefele and his team to the the Governor’s office. He was accompanied by a director in his company, Mr David Ajiboye and a radio host, Mr Isaac Brown, among others.
Some of the monarchs at the meeting with the governor included Oba Adeyemi, the Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola, Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdulganiy Adekunle, Iba of Kishi land, Oba Moshood Aweda and Onipetu of Ijeru land, Oba Sunday Oyediran, among others.
Also, the Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Arulogun, the Director-General, Bureau of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Waheed Gbadamosi, who also doubles as the Special Adviser to Governor Ajimobi on Physical Planning and Development Control, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, Mr Bolaji Tunji, the APC governorship aspirant, Joseph Tegbe, Special Advisers to the Governor (on Efficiency) Dr. Isaac Ayandele and Mr. Abidemi Siyanbade (Community Relations) respectively, were also part of the government’s team.
At the meeting, the Governor expressed the willingness to settle the matter, insisting that neither himself nor his government had any issue with either Ayefele or Fresh FM but with the structure housing the radio station. He said the issue is a battle for the supremacy of rule or law and respect for the laws of the land.
The Alaafin, in a short remark, appealed to the Governor to show mercy and allow for peaceful and amicable resolution of the matter.
Ayefele was reported to have apologised to the governor, even as he regretted not going to see the governor personally when the issue first broke out, instead of doing so in writing and by proxy. He also expressed readiness for amicable resolution of the matter in the interest of peace.
To ensure commitment to peace, a committee was set up in which both parties were represented. The committee will report back to the governor, who it was reported had instructed both parties to ensure a mutually-consented stand was reached in the interest of peace.
Although no party spoke on the outcome of the meeting, sources privy to the discussion described the outcome as fruitful and progressive, assuring that the matter would soon be resolved amicably.
On the path of peace
Aware of the implication of the demolition, the Governor shocked many perceived political enemies when he allegedly promised to support Ayefele in rebuilding the demolished building.
Governor Ajimobi gave the assurance while speaking at a reception organised to mark the 90th birthday of the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, on Sunday, exactly a week after the demolition.
Speaking at the event, Ajimobi was said to have promised that his administration will take up the responsibility of rebuilding the N800 worth Music House because he does not want his political enemies to use that to attack his administration.
He said: “I want to say that the imbroglio between the state government and Yinka Ayefele over the demolition of his Music House has been resolved. And I pledge the government’s commitment to assist him.”
All the dignitaries at the event, including all the governorship aspirants of the APC such as Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN); Mr. Soji Eniade; Chief Bayo Adelabu, Mr. Joseph Tegbe, Mr Isaac Omodewu, Prof. Soji Adejumo, Dr Olusola Ayandele and Dr Azeez Adeduntan praised Governor Ajimobi for his high-mindedness.
But before the governor’s speech at the event, there was a mild drama, as Ayefele, on arriving at the venue, went to greet Governor Ajimobi, making many guests at the ceremony to hail the popular gospel musician.
This, observers noted, apparently necessitated the assurance by the governor that his administration will rebuild the partially demolished Music House. But others are of the view that the governor only succumbed to pressure from both families and associates.
Ajimobi, who also hailed the popular gospel musician for his action, said he has no issue with Ayefele again after the reconciliatory meeting on Thursday.
The governor, who explained that his administration went against Ayefele for violating town planning law, insisted that the only way to avoid face-off with the law is for every citizen to be law-abiding.
