The Oyo State Government on Monday said the decision to pull down part of the Music House which belonged to Yinka Ayefele was not political, stressing that the building, which housed a radio station, Fresh FM, and valued at N800m, violated the physical planning law of the state.
At a press conference addressed by the Special Adviser to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Physical Planning and Development Control, Waheed Gbadamosi, the government said Ayefele failed to regularise the structural planning document for the building.
He added that due process was followed in the demolition of the Music House on Sunday.
Gbadamosi said, “On June 14, 2017, requests for approval were sent to Music House and 22 other radio stations in Oyo State. On August 18, 2017, a reminder letter was sent to Music House and the letter was received by Adebisi Akinkunmi. The action of the state government is not a witch-hunt. We even reported the radio stations to the National Broadcasting Commission.
“We also wrote to the Central Bank of Nigeria on some banks contravening the Oyo State Physical Planning and Development Control Law. Music House submitted a building plan on June 14, 2018, which necessitated the joint inspection visit we carried out on June 25, 2018. It was discovered that it was meant to be an office complex and not a radio station, among some other infractions.”
He added that the building blocked residents of an estate behind it from having a clear view of the main road and that the demolition was as a result of non-compliance to the letters written to the radio station.
Gbadamosi also warned that unless the government’s directive was carried out by Ayefele, the reconstruction of the demolished part of the building would not be allowed.
However, Ayefele said he sent his wife to Ajimobi to spare the building pending when the papers demanded would be ready.
In a separate press conference addressed by Ayefele at the Music House on Monday, the ace musician said he spent three days in a hospital because of the shock caused by the demolition notice.
He said he was ready to relocate to another place if it would bring peace.
Ayefele said, “I was hosptalised from Tuesday to Saturday. From the hospital, I sent my wife to the governor on Friday to help me beg him. She begged him on her knees from 11pm to 4am.
“He told my wife that he was only acting on what people said. When my wife was going, he gave her $1,000; he also gave money to those who followed her to the house as a sign that he had accepted our pleading.
“When I was discharged from the hospital on Saturday, I sent a text message to the governor to thank him and I promised to see him. I was told that he would entertain my visit on Sunday. But early on that day, the house was demolished.
“I obtained all necessary documents and when they demanded fresh ones, I called my architect to design a new one. It is not a day’s job; we were in the process when they demolished the house. The house is not obstructing any view; but as far as I am concerned, if this building is causing trouble or accidents, I will vacate it for peace to reign. This is politically motivated.”
