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The Oyo State Government has explained that its demolition notice to the Music House at Challenge, Ibadan, which houses Fresh FM 105.9, was not based on sentiments or any of the issues being insinuated. It said the radio station was not the only one affected by the state wide exercise.
It said contravention notices were served to different organizations in the state since June 14, 2017 including all radio stations in the state.
The building located at Lagos bye pass, Challenge, belongs to popular musician and CEO of the station, Yinka Ayefele. It has been marked for demolition and the ultimatum given to its owners expires today, Wednesday August 15, 2018.
There are speculations that the station was being witch-hunted for airing strong criticism against the state government. Insinuations had it that the station was being punished for airing a comment that Governor Abiola Ajimobi, was a part owner of the Central abattoir in Akinyele Local Government, the reason why all other abattoirs in the city were shut down and butchers forced to move to the new one.
But in a reaction by the state Commissioner for Information and Culture, Toye Arulogun, the state government said Fresh FM was only trying to whip up sentiments to escape the consequences of contravening planning laws and causing three fatal accidents in the last nine months.
In a short message to Newspeakonline, Arulogun said: “Fresh FM can attempt to whip up sentiments, four facts are basic:
1. The exercise is a state wide one. Not targeted at Fresh FM. U. I., UCH, Kola Daisi University, several banks(ATM extension) have been affected. All radio stations were written. A Local Government structure has been demolished.
2. The Music House building contravenes planning laws which they are not controverting.
3. From their statement which acknowledged that the matter is been on for over a year, it is evident that it bears no correlation with the falsehood on His Excellency’s ownership of shares in the Central abbatoir for which he has briefed his lawyers.
4. Music House has ocassioned three fatal accidents in the last 9 months on which Government has received petitions.
Rest assured Government will do the needful but not dignify or elevate the tantrums of Fresh FM. BPP has a job to do and up to the task.
READ: Oyo government to demolish Fresh FM building in Ibadan
The radio station’s Director of Corporate Affairs and Promotions, David Ajiboye had written on Facebook late on Tuesday 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”
Ajiboye also wrote that “….and therefore the entire N800 million edifice where almost 150 people make their daily bread have (sic) to go down. You are all invited to the demolition show at the Music House tomorrow”.
However, in a statement issued later in the day, Mr. Arulogun said that the submitted building approval was actually meant for an office complex and not a radio station, thereby contravening the Oyo State Physical Planning and Development Control laws, sections 30, 31 and 32 of the Oyo State Physical Planning and Urban Development Law of 2012. According to him, the submitted approval from Music House deviated from the approved plan which effect makes the approval null and void because deceitful information was given to the approving authority and also deviation from the approval granted both in construction and use.
Arulogun stressed that the state government’s initial demand for the building approved plan was not peculiar to Music House, Fresh Fm as several companies and institutiuons such as University of Ibadan, Kola Daisi University, University College Hospital, banks and radio stations in the state were asked to provide their Planning approval, saying that the government recently demolished several banks ATM extension and some local government structures in the state.
The government spokesman said that the letter to Fresh FM was received by one Bamiduro Aderonke and a reminder letter dated August 18, 2017 was sent to the radio station to again request for the planning approval/permit for the radio station in line with the Oyo State Physical and Development Control laws in which the radio station was expected to forward the approved building plan to the Bureau within seven days, noting that a copy of the letter was received by Adebisi Akinfunmi on August 21, 2017.
He added that a physical inspection was carried out on June 25, 2018 to ascertain the extent of the deviation from the approval where it was discovered that apart from the change in use of the building, spatial standards in terms of setback, airspace and parking spaces were found to be grossly inadequate.
The Commissioner said that a letter was sent to Music house on June 29, 2018 to submit a fresh building plan application that will reflect the existing structures on site, noting that the radio house deliberately ignored the letter as there was no response from their end till date.
He said that the deviant posture of the radio station prompted the Bureau to serve a three day demolition notice on August 13, 2018 which expired on August 15, 2018.
Arulogun said that the government had also received petitions subsequent upon three fatal accidents that occurred around Music house in the last nine months, as the petitioners urged the government to look at the physical structure of the organization in relation to the dual carriage way which lends itself easily to accidents.
He emphasised again that “the government will do the needful and follow due process in accordance with the laws of the land but will not dignify or elevate the tantrums of Music House, Fresh FM”