- Safiu Kehinde
The Olowo of Owo palace has urged members of the public concerned over the demolition of the Owo memorial park to direct the criticism and questions to the palace, stressing that the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, is not responsible for the demolition of the momentum.
NPO Reported that the state government had yesterday demolished the monument built by the late governor of the state, Rotimi Akeredolu, in honour of the 40 worshippers killed in June 2022 terrorists attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo.
The cenotaph reportedly had names of the victims of the attack inscribed on it.
Its demolition had however sparked controversies with some members of the public accusing Aiyedatiwa of destroying his predecessor’s legacy.
Reacting to the controversies in a statement issued on Monday, the Olowo-in-Council, in a statement issued on Monday, disclosed that demolition was carried out at the the instance of, Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye.
The council recounted how the Ondo monarch had from the onset opposed Akeredolu’s construction of the monument in front of his palace as it was considered a taboo.
The late governor was claimed to have carried on the project despite by some concerned Owo youths and advise by the town’s stakeholders.
While promising to provide full details of the circumstances that surrounded the cenotaph soon, the Olowo-in-Council maintained that the Aiyedatiwa is not responsible for the demolition.
The statement read in part; “In view of the public reactions generated by the demolition of the Memorial Park supposedly built in honour of the June 5th, 2022 murderous attack victims at St Francis Catholic church in Owo, the Palace wish to say unequivocally that the request for this action was at the instance of His Imperial Majesty, Olowo of Owo and the entire good people of the kingdom.
“It must be made clear that 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 SAN, CON.
“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.
“Even at a time a protest was made by concerned Owo youths and stakeholders to that effect which the then Governor disregarded.
“The above position of the palace is vindicated by the enthusiasm shown by Owo people and the deluge of commendation across sundry media platforms in support of the demolition.
“The Olowo-in-Council will soon come out to avail the public with the 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, Hon. (Dr.) Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, who is not in anyway responsible for the demolition.”