Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi meet Yinka Ayefele
– sets up committee to resolve crisis
– Afenifere lambasts Oyo Governor, says demolition smacks of high-handedness, power abuse
– It is repression of press freedom; we’ll challenge government in court – SERAP
Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has set-up a committee to resolve the issues that triggered the demolition of music superstar Yinka Ayefele’s Music House which also contains his Fresh FM Radio Station, located in Ibadan, the State capital.
He set up the committee during a meeting with the gospel musician in his office on Thursday in Ibadan.
According to NAN, Ayefele in the company of Mr Joseph Tegbe and some staff of Ayefele’s company had arrived the governor’s office around 11.30 am.
The governor emphasised the importance of the rule of law, insisting that Ayefele should have responded to various letters written to him by the state government.
He stated that the demolition exercise was not a witch-hunt nor politically motivated as claimed, adding it was due to contravention of the state planning laws.
Ajimobi described Ayefele as a good man and a responsible citizen, stressing that the next step is to compassionately find a means to resolve the issue.
He advised the musician to warn his people against unethical writings and broadcast, promising to solve the issue.
Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, who was also around to see the governor in the company of some other monarchs, pleaded with the governor on behalf of Ayefele.
The royal father, who described Ayefele as a good son, pleaded with the governor to find a lasting solution to the issue.
Earlier, Ayefele stated that his office responded to all letters forwarded to it by the state government, adding that he had also made several attempts to see the governor without success.
He expressed regret for not coming in person to see the governor instead of sending emissaries who failed to deliver his messages.
Ayefele stated that he was a law abiding and respectful citizen, who is ready to comply with regulations of the state government.
NAN reports that the committee which comprise state government officials and some staff of Fresh FM station, including Ayefele had since commenced the resolution process.
The meeting which lasted some hours was yet to conclude on the resolutions when it adjourned for another day
Ayefele
Afenifere blasts Ajimobi, says Music House demolition smacks of high-handedness, abuse of power
Oyo State wing of Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, has expressed dismay over the manner in which Yinka Ayefele’s Musical House was partly demolished by agents of the state government.
According to Daily Post, Afenifere, in a statement signed by its acting publicity secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, lamented that the act “is condemnable given the circumstances that surrounded it”.
The building which houses Ayefele’s radio station, Fresh FM Ibadan, was demolished in the early hours of Sunday.
But, Afenifere in its reaction, stated that it was highly disturbed that a property would be demolished in this manner as “it smacks of high-handedness, impunity and an abuse of power”.
The group maintained that: “the first reason for our distress has to do with the timing of the demolition. Weekends in Nigeria are normally work-free for government officers except for those on essential duties. To the best of our knowledge, demolishing a house that was not certified to have structural defects is not a thing that could not wait until the day of normal government business which is between Monday and Friday of the week.
“Secondly, a case, as stated inter alia, was instituted in court over the matter. It is curious that the government which kept imploring the citizens to always follow the rule of law and go to the court rather than taking law into their hands, itself resorted to self-help. Employing self-help is capable of engendering chaos and even violence,” the body reiterated.
Afenifere stated that the government gave the impression that it believes in the rule of law by asking a lawyer to write a letter to Mr. Ayefele on the basis of an alleged slanderous statements aired on his radio station.
“There might be no report that Ayefele fulfilled the three conditions as demanded by the Governor’s solicitor, Messrs Yomi Alliyu. One would expect that the action that would have followed such failure would be litigation rather than a demolition.
“One is therefore at pains to understand why the same Oyo State Government would resort to the usage of force to either settle a slanderous case or a violation of building enactment.
“Actions such as the demolition of the Music House are unacceptable to Afenifere Oyo and members of the public. We demand reparation as well as an assurance that such actions that border on an abuse of power would no longer occur in our land,” the statement read.
It is repression of press freedom; we’ll challenge government in court – SERAP
As reported by Sahara Reporters, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has accused Governor Abiola Ajimobi of “executive rascality”, following the demolition of Yinka Ayefele’s Music House, on Sunday.
According to the organisation, “the unlawful demolition of Fresh FM building owned by Yinka Ayefele, and the forced evictions of residents by the Oyo State government is a grave violation of fundamental human rights and contrary to international law.”
Government bulldozers brought down a section of the building, located at the Challenge area of Ibadan, despite a pending court action.
According to a statement signed by Timothy Adewale, SERAP’s Deputy Director, the demolition is “a gross abuse of powers by the Oyo State Government and Governor Ajimobi against a radio station simply doing their job.”
SERAP described the action as “politically motivated, patently arbitrary and entirely inconsistent with international human rights standards and national laws,” noting that “the action amounts to executive rascality and seriously undermines the integrity and authority of our courts. This kind of action has no place in a democratic society that is based on the rule of law.”
Describing the demolition as a “repression of media freedom,” the statement also called for an immediate stop to the destruction, and for adequate compensation to be paid to the owner of the building.
The statement read: “The destruction of a radio station on the grounds that the Oyo State Government dislikes their work is a textbook case of repression of media freedom and violation of the right to adequate housing. The authorities must immediately stop the demolition, ensure appropriate repairs of the building and adequate compensation, and guarantee of non-repetition. SERAP will challenge this violent and reckless destruction of Ayefele’s Fresh FM in court.
“The Oyo State government has not only engaged in forced eviction, but also violated the right to adequate housing, the right to freedom of expression and media freedom. It is the obligation of Oyo State government to ensure that Ayefele and everyone affected by this act of illegality is adequately compensated for the property of Fresh FM that has been demolished.
“Nigeria is a state party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which requires Oyo State government to refrain from arbitrary forced evictions and arbitrary destruction of resources that individuals and families have invested in building their homes.
“Nigeria has also ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which protects individuals from arbitrary or unlawful interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, and guarantees everyone the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attack.”
“In its “Resolution on Forced Evictions,” the U.N. Commission on Human Rights affirmed that forced evictions constitute a gross violation of human rights. The term “forced eviction” is defined for the purposes of international law as the permanent or temporary removal against their will of individuals, families and/or communities from the homes and/or land which they occupy, without the provision of, and access to, appropriate forms of legal or other protection.
“It is important to note that international standards focus on protecting individuals who occupy homes and land and do not depend on any particular form of ownership title to the land or house, nor on the legality of the occupancy.”
NUJ condemns demolition
Also, the Oyo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists condemned the demolition of the Music House which houses Ayefele’s Fresh FM 105.9 radio station.
A statement jointly signed by the council’s Chairman, Mr Adewunmi Faniran, and the Secretary, Mr Bola Ogunlayi, said it was highly disturbed that the building was demolished when the matter was before a court of competent jurisdiction.
The building belonging to the popular musician was demolished at about 4.30 am on Sunday by the state government for allegedly contravening its town planning laws.
The council expressed concern about the fate of the journalists and other media workers in the establishment as well as the loss suffered by the owner of the broadcast outfit.
“As the fourth estate of the realm and believer in the rule of law, the Oyo State NUJ expects that the court would have been left to take a definite decision on the issue of demolition before it was carried out,” it said.
The council called on the state government to ensure that “ it comes to the aid of Fresh FM which has been a pride of Ibadan in particular and Oyo State.’’
It urged the government to relocate the station to another site and ensure the smooth take-off of its operations.
Meanwhile, Ayefele has dismissed the alleged promise by Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki to give him money as untrue, saying the Senate President did not promise him any financial assistance.
Ayefele, who spoke through his Manager, David Ajiboye was reacting to the alleged claim by the Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Toye Arulogun.
In a Facebook post, Ajiboye wrote: Yinka Ayefele Ltd is using this medium to inform the general public that the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki did not promise Dr. Yinka Ayefele, Fresh FM or its management any amount of money.
“Please disregard information being circulated to this regard. It is orchestrated by Toye Arulogun, Commissioner for info and Culture in Oyo State’’.
NAN/Daily Post/Sahara Reporters/Inside Oyo
