By Ayodele Oni
Controversy over the demolition of the cenotaph erected in memory of victims of the June 5, 2022, St. Francis Catholic Church massacre in Owo, Ondo still rages as Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, put the blame on the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ogunleye.
The governor, who distanced himself from the demolition, insisted that the action was initiated by the Olowo of Owo over a land ownership dispute.
The memorial park was built by late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to honour worshippers and families affected by the terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, which claimed over 40 lives and left many others injured.
Four suspects linked with the demolition were on Wednesday sentenced to death by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today with Seun Okinbaloye, Aiyedatiwa pointed out that the cenotaph was constructed without the approval of the state government at the time and was sited on land belonging to the Olowo of Owo.
According to the governor, some actors in government then ignored objections raised by the traditional ruler and proceeded with the project, erecting the monument directly opposite the palace, a location considered taboo in Owo tradition.
He maintained that he neither approved nor directed the demolition, stressing that the monarch exercised his rights as the owner of the land.
“I wasn’t the one who instructed that it should be demolished. The owner of the land felt that this is my land and I need to take over my land,” the governor said.
The demolition of the memorial sparked widespread reactions from residents and religious groups, who viewed the structure as a symbol of remembrance for the victims of one of Nigeria’s deadliest terrorist attacks in recent years.
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