Owo Church Attack: Ondo Govt Demolishes Akeredolu’s Memorial Park
The Ondo State Government has demolished the memorial park constructed by the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in honour of the victims of the June 5, 2022, terrorist attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo.
The cenotaph, situated opposite the palace of the Olowo of Owo and bearing the names of the deceased, was pulled down on the directive of the current administration led by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Speaking on the development, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, confirmed that the action was taken following a special request by the palace of the Olowo, who raised cultural concerns about the monument’s location.
“It was a special request from the palace of the Olowo, as it is said to be against the culture and tradition to site such near the palace,” Adeniyan told journalists.
In a statement issued by the Olowo-in-Council, the palace disclosed that it had advised the former governor against constructing the cenotaph at its present location, stating that honouring the dead so close to the palace goes against the age-long customs of the Owo people.
The palace said, “The request for this action was at the instance of His Imperial Majesty, the Olowo of Owo, and the entire good people of the kingdom. The decision to site the structure in that particular location was resisted by the Olowo-in-Council and frowned upon by the people of the community when it was being conceived by the government of the late Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu.”
It further revealed that even protests by concerned youths and stakeholders of Owo were disregarded by the former administration, which proceeded with the construction despite traditional opposition.
“All advice to the late governor that celebrating the dead in any guise around the palace is not in conformity with the age-long culture and traditions of Owo was defiantly dismissed,” the statement continued.
The palace said the recent demolition has been welcomed by the majority of the community and warned critics of the action to direct their grievances to the Olowo-in-Council, not the present administration.
“The Olowo-in-Council will soon come out to avail the public with comprehensive details of all that happened before and during the construction of the structure which led to the current development. And before then, we advise anyone with any issues whatsoever against the demolition to make the palace their target and not the listening Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa,” it stated.
In the June 2022 attack, over 40 worshippers were killed when gunmen stormed the church during Sunday Mass, leaving dozens injured.
The memorial park was later constructed in 2023 by the Akeredolu-led government as a tribute to the lives lost.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
