The reports of the demolition of a radio station in Oyo fills me with a deep sadness. Press freedom is sacrosanct. It’s equally saddening that at a time when jobs are badly needed, a radio station which was providing jobs is needlessly demolished. #sad”
Emmanuel Ukudolo l Monday, August 20, 2018
LAGOS, Nigeria – The internet is abuzz, the airwaves are heated up with commentaries, all in condemnation of the decision of the Oyo State Governor, Mr. Abiola Ajimobi to reduce to rubble Fresh FM 105.9, owned by popular gospel musician, Yinka Ayefele.
The building housing the internet radio station was finally demolished last week, just few days after it was marked for the exercise. The musician had raised the alarm that the state government was determined to pull down his structure even though he obtained all necessary permits from the state government before going ahead to erect the structure over 10 years ago. Prior to the demolition, not less than 150 people earned their living by working for Fresh FM 105.9 – they have now been deprived of their means of livelihood.
Speaking satirically about what appears to be the rationale for the demolition, Director of Corporate Affairs and Promotions for Fresh FM 105.9, Mr. David Ajiboye wrote on Facebook that the demolition notice was issued because “(1) The staff canteen in the premises was not approved. (2) The spiral staircase was not in the approved plan. (3) The mast was not in the approved plan (4) The fence was not in the approved plan.
“….and therefore the entire N800 million edifice where almost 150 people make their daily bread have to go down. You are all invited to the demolition show at the Music House tomorrow,” he announced.
However hints that Fresh FM 105.9 will go down became imminent when Governor Abiola Ajumobi said he had severally been told to demolish the station due to its unfavourable content. Those who advised him never gave him the most democratic approach to issues of this nature which is litigation.
“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,” he was quoted to have said in a broadcast.
But in another twist, the state government appears to holding the Music House Complex culpable for accidents on the axis.
Ayefele had in a statement denounced insinuation and called on Governor Abiola Ajumobi’s government to come out clean.
“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. 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”, Ayefele said.
Speaking on the exercise, Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar said he is sad to hear news of the demolition.”It fills me with deep sadness”, he said, adding that press freedom is sacrosanct. He noted that he was not pleased that the Oyo State Government could do such a thing at a time when jobs are badly needed.
“The reports of the demolition of a radio station in Oyo fills me with a deep sadness. Press freedom is sacrosanct. It’s equally saddening that at a time when jobs are badly needed, a radio station which was providing jobs is needlessly demolished. #sad”, he said.
In his reaction, Senator Ben Murray Bruce said the development does not speak well of a government that seems to horn the need for investment in Nigeria, and that Yinka Ayefele could have won an award if he had set up Fresh FM 105.9 in England or America.
“If Yinka Ayefele had built that radio station in England or America, he would have received an award. He built it in Nigeria to provide jobs and he received bulldozers instead. Yet we say we want investors”, he said.
Writing on the hurried demolition exercise, Adeboye said the issues at stake have nothing to do with pemits but intolerance and highhandedness on the part of the Abiola Ajumobi’s government.
“The issues on ground are these:When did radio programme become a threat to the government? Is governance about oppressing? Has the government exhausted the laid down rules and time frame required by law on demolition? Why carry out demolition at night?What becomes of the young people working at Fresh FM? Is Oyo State Government going to employ them? You do not kill a fly with a sledge hammer, that’s what we used to hear. Even, those who imposed themselves on us without being invited did not maltreat us as some of these never do well politicians”, he said.
Adeboye argued that the action of the Oyo State Governor reminds him of what happened in 1983, when the issue of “omowa ni eje osee”, was introduced into our political dictionary and it produced Chief Omololu Olunloyo, a member of the NPN, which was ruling at the centre.
“He had defeated the former governor, Chief Bola Ige of the UPN, led by the inimitable Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Olunloyo hailed from Ibadan, while Bola Ige was an indigene of Esa Oke. Awolowo was the publisher of Nigerian Tribune based in that Ibadan.The newspaper was always reporting what Olunloyo was not doing well and has taken false steps.
“He once went to the Imalefalafia (hope i got the name right) office of the newspaper and told the Editor-in-Chief, “se iwo ni oga awon dindinrin wonyi”? meaning are you the leader of these nincompoops? He battled them word for word. A refined gentleman, he was, as he did not demolish their office. Coming to Ondo State here and in this same dispensation, there was no word Adaba FM did not call our former Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, yet he did not take them to court, nor pull down their outfit.
“What we have in some states is intolerance of the highest order. Any government that fights the media is digging its own grave because journalists no de carry gun, we no de kill people. We render social service, though its not as it should be anymore. When a government hates the media, it means there are skeletons in its cupboard. A government should not pull down what it cannot build.Odun eegun maa ntan o, a di ohun itan.Prosperity will not forgive this deed”, he said.
