Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, former first lady of Ondo, has criticised Lucky Aiyedatiwa, governor of the state, over the demolition of the memorial park of the victims of the June 5, 2022, terror attack on St Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo town.
The administration of Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the late former
governor of Ondo, constructed the memorial park to honour the over 40
worshippers killed in the attack.
However, the park was demolished on Saturday on the order of
the administration of Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the incumbent governor of Ondo.
The government cited pressure from the Olowo of Owo and his
council, who described the memorial’s location near the palace as a cultural
taboo and “abomination”.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued on Monday,
Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu condemned the demolition as “an act of profound
insensitivity” and a “desecration of sacred ground”.
She questioned the government’s decision to erase a monument
that symbolised collective mourning and healing for the community.
“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,” the former Ono first lady said.
“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 honors 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
dishonors 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
honor 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.”
But Sam Adewale, Olowo’s spokesperson, defended the palace’s
role in the demolition, stating that the location had long been opposed by the
Olowo-in-council and natives of the town.
Adewale said critics should direct their grievances to the
palace rather than Aiyedatiwa.
Ebenezer Adeniyan, Aiyedatiwa’s spokesperson, confirmed that
the demolition was carried out following a formal request from the palace
through the local government council.
Adeniyan said the governor had approved relocating the
monument to a culturally appropriate site that would still honour 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 said.
“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.”
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