Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, the former First Lady of Ondo State, has criticised Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for ordering the demolition of the memorial park dedicated to the victims of the tragic June 5, 2022, attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo.
The park, a project initiated by the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, was built to honour the memory of over 40 worshippers who lost their lives in the brutal assault.
Despite its significance, the memorial was torn down on Saturday under the directive of Mr Aiyedatiwa’s administration.
READ ALSO: Ondo govt pulls down Owo church attack victims’ memorial park
Authorities explained that the decision followed pressure from the Olowo of Owo and his council, who argued that the memorial’s proximity to the palace was culturally offensive and an ‘abomination.’
Responding to the development in a statement on Monday, Mrs Anyanwu-Akeredolu condemned the act, describing it as an act of profound insensitivity and a desecration of sacred ground.”
She challenged the rationale behind removing a monument that served as a powerful symbol of the community’s collective grief and healing.
“What kind of leadership defiles the memory of innocent souls in such a callous manner? Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s demolition of the Owo church massacre monument is not only an act of profound insensitivity; it is a desecration of sacred ground.
“That monument, built by my late husband, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, a son of Owo, was a solemn tribute to lives violently cut short in a house of worship. It symbolised collective mourning, remembrance, and healing.
“To now dismiss it as having ‘no economic value’ and to demolish it for a so-called ‘world-class shopping complex’ reveals a disturbing level of moral bankruptcy.
“A world-class society does not erase its pain to make way for profit. It preserves memory, it honours the dead, and it builds with conscience.
“This evil act is not just a political misstep; it is an affront to decency. It insults the victims, disrespects their families, and dishonours the legacy of a governor who governed with empathy and stood for justice.
“The voiceover defending this abomination only deepens the outrage. How daft can one be to assume that the value of life, memory, and honour must be measured by profit margins? An honorary doctorate cannot mask a glaring absence of humanity and scholarship. Lucky Aiyedatiwa has shown us who he is and history, too, will remember,” she said.
However, Sam Adewale, spokesperson for the Olowo of Owo, defended the demolition, insisting that the traditional council and local residents had consistently objected to the location of the memorial, which they viewed as culturally inappropriate.
Mr Adewale urged critics to direct their anger at the palace, not Mr Aiyedatiwa.
Also addressing the issue, Ebenezer Adeniyan, spokesperson to the governor, confirmed that the palace formally requested the monument’s removal through the local government council.
Mr Adeniyan explained that the governor approved the relocation to a more suitable site that aligns with cultural expectations while still paying tribute to the victims.
“In line with this tradition, the Olowo-in-council, through the local government authority, formally requested the removal and relocation of the monument,” he stated.
“Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, with due respect to both the late governor’s legacy and the sanctity of Yoruba culture, approved the respectful relocation of the monument to a more appropriate location—one that still preserves its solemn purpose without violating cultural norms.”
