Ondo govt demolishes Owo memorial cenotaph

The Ondo State Government has demolished the memorial park built by a former governor of the state, the late Rotimi Akeredolu, to honour and immortalise the worshippers of St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, killed in a terrorist attack on the church in 2022.

The cenotaph which had the names of the victims of the attack and was located at the heart of the ancient town was said to have been demolished on the order of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

Meanwhile, the Chief Press Secretary to Aiyedatiwa, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, confirmed the demolition of the monument, saying the decision was taken by the government after complaints from the palace about the site of the cenotaph.

“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”, said Adeniyan.

Also, the Olowo-in-Council in a statement on Monday had said that it warned the administration of a former governor of Ondo State, the late Rotimi Akeredolu, against contruction a memorial park to immortalise the worshippers of St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, killed in a terrorist attack on the church in 2022.

The Council said ” “In view of the public reactions generated by the demolition of the Memorial Park supposedly built in honour of June 5, 2022, murderous attack victims at St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, the Palace wishes 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”.