Yinka Ayefele breaks silence over demolition of radio station

A popular Juju musician and Chairman/CEO of Fresh FM, a private radio
station in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Mr. Yinka Ayefele has
reacted to the notice issued by the Oyo State government to demolish
part of Music House which houses the radio station.

Ayefele in a statement he personally signed, declared that the
construction of the building did not contravene any building law
because it had the necessary approvals from relevant government
agencies

Ayefele said it was annoying that the state government that had
commended the radio station for professionalism was now coming up with
unsubstantiated claims that its building had not been approved.

He wondered why the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Toye Arulogun
who had visited and appeared on its program, issued such statement on
behalf of the government.

Ayefele in the statement said, "Our attention has been drawn to a
purported press release signed by Mr. Toye Arulogun, Commissioner for
Information and Culture, Oyo State where he said that the Music House
Complex Contravenes Planning laws and is responsible for three fatal
accidents that occurred on the road in the last nine months on which
the government have received petitions.

"We want to make it clear that Music House followed due process in the
construction of the building and got relevant approvals from state
departments and agencies associated with lands and buildings.

"Saying that Music House Complex is responsible for three accidents
that occurred on the road in the last nine months is just an attempt
by the Commissioner to run away from his shadow. How can a reasonable
person say that?

"It is not news that the Governor of the state himself said some
politicians came to 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 general public to know that Music House has not in any
way contravened any building plan law as the Commissioner has
mischievously said.

"Music House has been in existence for almost 10 years and we have all
necessary documents backing the building from relevant government
agencies.

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 approved 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 accident along this road.
Perhaps it is also responsible for accidents on Ring road and other
parts of the state.

"If we actually contravened the building law, why did the Commissioner
always send us press release for use on behalf of the government.

"The Commissioner has featured on different programmes on our station
and has commended us for our professionalism same with the Governor
who heaped praises on us when he visited the station on October 6,
2016. The Commissioner should look for another excuse and stop chasing
shadows".