The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi yesterday appealed to the state government to compensate popular gospel musician Dr Yinka Ayefele whose Music House building was demolished by the Oyo State government last Sunday.
Oba Adeyemi suggested this after a peace meeting between Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Ayefele at the state secretariat.
The monarch led other monarchs from Oyo town and Oke Ogun who came to pay the governor a Sallah visit, to the meeting facilitated by a top governorship aspirant in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Engr. Joseph Tegbe.
With Alaafin were the Eleruwa of Eruwa Oba Samuel Adegbola; Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdulganiy Adekunle; Iba of Kishiland, Oba Moshood Aweda; Onpetu of Ijeruland, Oba Sunday Oyediran among others.
Oba Adeyemi also pleaded with the governor to resolve the impasse.
OYO INSIGHT learnt that the meeting was brokered towards resolving the crisis created by the demolition of the Music House housing Fresh F.M radio.
The governor said the demolition exercise was neither a witch-hunt nor politically motivated, insisting it was due to the contravention of the state’s property laws.
Ajimobi described Ayefele as a good man and a responsible citizen, stressing that the next step was to find a compassionate means of resolving the issue.
He also urged Ayefele to ensure that his radio station embraced ethical reportage of the issue.
Meanwhile, Ajimobi has set up a committee to resolve the crisis.
The committee, comprising of government official and some workers of Fresh FM station, including Ayefele, had since commenced the resolution process.
The meeting, which lasted hours, was later adjourned for another day.
At the first level of the meeting, it was gathered the governor directed that a new building accommodating the additional parts of the building be approved for Ayefele immediately.
The ace gospel singer’s architect is to liaise with officials in the department of physical planning to work out the modalities and the approval, while the fence of the building would be moved back a few metres.
The governor, according to Nigerian Tribune, also expressed willingness to ensure financial compensation to Ayefele, with the terms of the recompense to be discussed at a later meeting between the governor and the proprietor of the station.
Earlier, Ayefele had stated that his office responded to all letters forwarded to it by the state government.
He expressed regrets at not being able to see the governor, adding that the emissaries he sent failed to deliver his messages.
stated that he remains a law-abiding citizen who is ready to comply with the regulations of the state government.
