- Safiu Kehinde
The Ondo State Government has demolished the memorial park built by the late former governor of the state, Rotimi Akeredolu, in honour of the members of St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, killed in a terrorist attack on the church in 2022.
Akeredolu had in 2023 built the cenotaph to immortalise the 40 worshippers killed by the suspected terrorists in June 2022 during an early morning mass.
According to reports, the cenotaph had the names of the victims of the attack and was located at the heart of the ancient town of Owo.
It was however demolished on Sunday on the order of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Confirming the development, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, disclosed that the monument was demolished after series of complaints by the Paramount ruler of the town, the Olowo of Owo Oba Ajibade Ogunoye, who objected to the siting of the monument directly opposite his palace.
However, the demolition had triggered controversies with some netizens questioning the reason behind the demolition while others outrightly slammed the state government.
Some however claimed the erection of the monument in front of the king’s palace is a taboo and as such deserved to be demolished.
“Disrespect on repeat. Memorials are for healing, not tearing down. Sad move. 🕊️😞”@AdetunjiAdewolu
“Hmm… 🤔 If citizens don’t stand up for themselves, that’s how they will keep getting mass@cered and build memorials that will be later demolished.”@naijaoppressed
“People wey no Dey Owo no go know the reason Dey demolished it. This place is opposite the king palace and its a taboo for the king to see such thing in Yoruba land.And moreover they already have a memorial park in that same church the incident happened.”@wumee12
“There are reasons why they demolished and relocated it. But you people won’t ask questions”@Oluwatosinidiri4
“Everybody in CS talking rubbish. How will a cemetery face the king palace whereas that same spot was used as market before Aketi converted it to that rubbish that he built.”@FlodyMani
“Even history that is supposed to teach the future about the past and how to deal with present situation is erased. The Internet is the only saving grace of an ordinary citizen in homeland.”@joeerazer
“the King slept when the park was being constructed and they allowed tax payers monies to be wasted The late Governor that initiated it,was he not from OWO? Does he not know tradition,why was he not stopped? The memorial for those dead would’ve been unraveling their killers.”@OpeyemiAkinyod2
“Wow. Based on what. This is madness. So are the memories of those victims not worth remembering or what Who’s this crazy governors trying to erase the unshakable legacy of Aketi.”@ogbonjogbonlo
“Why will they not waste money they there father did nt work for.
Excessive waste of tax’s payers funds.”@greengizie.