Oyo government demolishes Ayefele’s N800m radio station

NUJ, HURIWA condemn action
Oyo State government yesterday demolished the Music House, a building belonging to popular Juju musician, Yinka Ayefele, along Challenge-Toll Gate Express Way, which houses Fresh FM Station in Ibadan.

Ayefele claimed that the property, which was pulled down about 4:30am, was worth about N800 million.

The state had issued a demolition notice on the property claiming some part of the building was not approved, but Ayefele denied the allegation, insisting that the building did not contravene any law.

He had also approached an Oyo State High Court to stop the state government from demolishing the outfit.

Workers of the radio station and some civil society groups had since Thursday been holding peaceful demonstration to persuade government to reverse its decision.

But the government had earlier explained that the demolition notice was not based on sentiments or witch-hunting, saying that contravention notices were served to different organisations, including radio stations since June 14, 2017.

Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Toye Arulogun, in a statement said property owners deviated from the originally approved building plans without seeking approval from the state’s Bureau of Physical Planning and Development Control.

Arulogun stated that government’s decision to demand for the building’s approved plan was not peculiar to Music House, Fresh FM, as several companies and institutions such as University of Ibadan, Kola Daisi University, University College Hospital, banks and radio stations were asked to provide their Planning approvals.

He added that the government recently demolished several banks ATM extension and some local government structures in the state.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has condemned the demolition of Music House, which houses Ayefele’s Fresh FM 105.9 radio station.

A statement signed by the council’s Chairman, Adewunmi Faniran and Secretary, Bola Ogunlayi, said it was highly concerned that the building was demolished when the matter was before a court of competent jurisdiction.