The Oyo State Government has said the
ongoing reconstruction of the façade of the Music House, owned by the
Gospel Musician, Mr. Yinka Ayefele, which was partially demolished in
August, this year was done on compassionate ground.
The governor said this in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr Bolaji Tunji.
According to him, the government said its intervention was informed by
the acknowledgment of contravention of the state building code by the
management of the Music House and the personal appeal by Ayefele to the
Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
Tunji also explained that the appeal by various stakeholders to the
state government, as well as the preparedness of the owner of the
building to rectify the contraventions, which would involve the
reduction of the frontage fence line by 1.5m, among others, informed the
intervention by the governor.
He added that the parking lots at the tail end of the building close to
the entrance of Lagelu Estate had also been reduced by 10.9m to allow
visibility.
Similarly, he said that the current frontage of the building was being
remodeled to become the back of the building, while the current back of
the building had been converted to the frontage.
In line with the recommendation of the joint committee of the state
government and the Music House management, he said that an entrance was
being reconstructed from the rear of the building to the staircase
housing the ram for the exclusive use of Ayefele.
He added, “There is also the recession of the current façade on the
frontage of the building by 2.9m. The new fence will be grill fence to
ensure visibility, while a staircase will be built at the basement to
access the studio.
“The structural elements in the building will also be strengthened,
while the two projections at both ends (stair halls) of the current
frontage will be retained.”
Tunji said that the clarification by the government, as well as
newspaper reports credited to Ayefele on Sunday where he thanked Ajimobi
and stated that the governor had “through this magnanimity helped us to
right our wrong and we shall be eternally grateful to him” should lay
the matter to rest.
He advised those seeking to rubbish the political capital built by the
governor in the past seven years through purposeful governance and
unprecedented achievements to look elsewhere.
Tunji added, “Following Mr Ayefele’s admittance of breach of procedures
in the construction of the building and his subsequent apologies, as
well as intervention of well-meaning members of the public, the governor
agreed to temper justice with mercy.
“The governor’s approval on the reconciliation of the issue was
communicated to Mr Ayefele on October 19, 2018, where His Excellency
also approved the assistance on the reconciliation agreed upon on
compassionate grounds, as he earlier promised publicly.”
“It is necessary to put it on records that the governor or the state
government was not out to witch-hunt the popular musician or anybody,
but had acted to safeguard members of the public who daily ply the roads
contiguous to the Music House.”
Comments
Post a Comment