THROWBACK: Ayefele’s Fresh FM is best in Oyo, I see no reason to demolish it – Ajimobi

Two year ago in a radio broadcast, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State said he had no reason to demolish Yinka Ayefele’s Music House in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state.

In the broadcast, obtained Ajimobi also revealed how he was allegedly told to demolish the building shortly after he was elected governor of the state.

Recall that the building, which houses Ayefele’s radio station, Fresh FM, was partly demolished Sunday morning.

But in the 2016 broadcast, aired by Fresh FM, Ajimobi revealed that he was asked to demolish the building during his first term as governor because the radio station and the owner were not in support of his political aspirations.

He said, “When we contested the first and won, a lot (of people) told us to demolish the radio station because your programmes and broadcasts are against my government. Your boss, Yinka Ayefele, was also using songs to insult us.

“I didn’t see any reason why I should demolish the studio. If Ayefele is not for us today, he (will) support us later in future. Ayefele is beside me now and I pray the business will keep flourishing.”

Commenting further, Ajimobi described the radio station as the best in Oyo State.

“Without any equivocation, I must confess that this radio station is the best in Oyo State,” the governor said.

But on Sunday, a part of the Music House was demolished.

The location of the building has generated controversies in recent weeks, with the Oyo State Government alleging that it contravenes urban and physical planning laws of the state.

The government said the building violated the originally approved building plan because it is “structurally defective (and) poses danger or constitutes a nuisance to the occupier or the general public”.

Toye Arulogun, Oyo State Commissioner for Information, said the state government had also received petitions detailing about three accidents that took place around the building.

T government had served the management of the building a notice of demolition which expired August 15, but Mr Ayefele was reported to have headed to the court, alleging victimization.

Reacting to the demolition exercise Sunday morning, Mr Ayefele took to his verified Facebook page to lament the incident. The musician, who arrived the scene of the demolition shortly after the exercise began, wrote: “Oyo state government did at last……my pains my sweat ….So help me God.”

The Oyo State Government is yet to comment on the incident as at press time Sunday morning.

The Music House, is said to be valued at N800 million.