Ajimobi, Ayefele hold peace meeting as Alaafin, others intervene

Abiola Ajimobi and Yinka Ayefele

Governor Abiola Ajimobi and popular musician, Ynka Ayefele, met at the Government House in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Thursday over the demolition of the latter’s Music House on Sunday.

The meeting followed intervention by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Joseph Tegbe, and other eminent personalities.

Ayefele’s manager, David Ajiboye, in a Facebook post, confirmed that the meeting was facilitated by Tegbe.

“We just left a meeting with the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi at the Governor’s office. The meeting was facilitated by a guber aspirant, Joseph Tegbe,” Ajiboye wrote.

Oba Adeyemi and other traditional rulers, who had a meeting with the governor around the same time, also pleaded on behalf of the singer.

Ayefele was accompanied by Tegbe and some staff of the musician’s Fresh FM radio station.

Ajimobi, who agreed to set up a committee to look into the matter, emphasised the importance of the rule of law, saying 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.

The Alaafin also pleaded with the governor on behalf of Ayefele.

Oba Adeyemi, who described Ayefele as a good son, asked 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 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.