It’s no more news that Oyo State government has demolished Veteran Nigerian musician Yinka Ayefele‘s Music House building, which housed one of leading radio station in South-West region of Nigeria, Fresh FM Ibadan yesterday. If you haven’t heard about the news, it seems that you’re not living in this plant of Earth.
Following the demolition of Yinka Ayefele‘s Music House, Fresh FM on Sunday August 20th, new reasons have emerged for the Oyo State Government’s decision and action. According to some report, the Yinka Ayefele‘s Music House was reported to have valued around N800M, and it has been in operation for the last ten years and many have questioned not just the Government’s decision but the pace by which the order has been carried out.
However, the Oyo State Government have claimed that the location of the demolished building contravenes urban and physical planning laws of the state. This led to the management approaching the High Court to seek an order barring the state government from demolishing the building, with the suit adjourned for hearing this coming week.
In an interview on TVC, Samson Akindele, Head of News, Fresh FM further explained the reasons behind the action of the government.
”The only reason this has to happen is because we are a victim of political vendetta, even though we are not a political party, we have been very professional in doing our job.
And that is why they reported us to the NBC, [National Broadcasting Commission], they found nothing against us,that they should withdraw our licenses, up-to Abuja level, but they found nothing against us.
But the government of Oyo State through the Commissioner for Information and Culture [Toye Arologun], they have been on our neck. I have been threatened not once, not twice over certain reports that have been done that we didn’t go against the ethics of our profession. They have only agreed to use other tactics by calling on an agency of government to come and do the evil deed they have done.”
He then went further to explain the event leading to the demolition
”We got a three day notice to evacuate the building from Monday and Wednesday, they wanted to come around 4am Thursday morning, but when they saw that people were there in the front of the building, they couldn’t come.
In 2012, the building lost about three or four plots to that road… We had to concede, a consensus was reached that this road will still be here without this building obstructing and we have been there since then uptill now.
The Governor visited our studios in October 2016 and he said, ”I thank God that I did not demolish this building when politicians told me to do so”… We felt finally, respite has come, not knowing that our professional action will still bring this kind of thing on us.”
He states that the hearing has been fixed for Monday, August 20 at the High Court in Ibadan and a notice have been served that everyone should hold on, until the matter is tabled before the judiciary.
NBA react to the demolition of Ayefele’s Fresh Fm
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan branch, have condemned the demolition of the music house situated at Challenge area of Ibadan, by the Oyo state government.
In a statement signed by the Chairman and the Secretary of the NBA in Ibadan, Oluwole Akintayo and Akeem Okelola on Sunday, August 19, the association described the demolition as a breach of the rule of law.
”It is our understanding that there is a pending suit in court over the decision of the Oyo State Government to demolish the property.
It is trite that once parties subject themselves to the jurisdiction of a court, they must be ready to abide by the outcomes and refrain from taking further step that can prejudice the case and render the final decision nugatory.
The Rule of Law is the basis upon which a just society is governed. Even if there is no express order of court restraining the government, the fact that parties are already in court over the matter is a sufficient reason why the government must stay action.
It is a cardinal principle of law that once an application for injunction is served, the parties should wait for the outcome of the application so as not to foist a fait accompli on the court. In view of the above, the Oyo State Government should not have carried out the demolition exercise.” a part of the statement read.
Pulse have made attempt to reach the Commissioner for Information, Toye Arulogun, but they refused to comment as we were informed that the matter will be officially addressed at a press briefing this week.
However, Yinka Ayefele himself has speaks on the issue: