By Ayodele Oni
In memory of those worshippers mauled down by terrorists at Saint Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo state last year, Ondo State Government has commenced the construction of a befitting Memorial Park in the ancient city.
Victims of the June 5, 2022 horrific attack at St Francis Catholic Church, Owo were given mass burial except those whose corpses were received by relations.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Richard Olatunde, in a statement, stated that Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who spoke during a visit to the project site, said the Memorial Park, located in the heart of Owo, will be a beauty to behold when completed.
Akeredolu disclosed that his administration is determined not to forget the souls that have departed.
He hinted that the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who visited Owo to commiserate with the State and the people after the incident, will be invited to commission the project when completed.
”The Architect, who designed this place, Architect Femi Bello, the Odopetu of Akure Kingdom, I want to thank him very well, because he showed interest in this project. His interest is beyond the normal, so I thank you.
“By the time we finish this Memorial Park, it will be a beauty to behold and it is going to measure up to any Memorial Park anywhere because the Architect has taken his time to do so many good work here. It is for us to just wait and see it.
“Come rain, come sunshine, this project must be completed before the end of May. When this incident (attack) happened, our President-elect was here. I know that by the time we tell him we have this Memorial Park for him to come and commission it, I think it will be a joy to him.
“That will be just a week after his inauguration, I pray he will come so that he can see this Memorial Park.
“For us, we are determined not to forget the souls that have departed. They were 41 in number. And others that are still nursing the wounds, although they have gone back to their homes, they have been discharged, some of them are outpatients.
“As you know, we also have a lady whose two legs were amputated. The government has provided for her necessary prosthesis that she can use.
“I’m told that she has been able to use it. Her rehabilitation is moving on well and we are sure that she will still live a normal life. That is what I believe, she will live a normal life. So, for us, it is just a way of remembering those 41 souls that died.”
Earlier, the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Land and Housing, Engr. Raimi Aminu, commended Governor Akeredolu for not forgetting the departed souls.
He said the befitting Memorial Park will be completed before the end of May, this year.
“Government has decided to site at this location befitting Memorial Park in rememberance of those departed souls. It is going to be a befitting one, well drawn and which can compete with others throughout the world.
“Apart from that, government also has intention of siting so many things like museum and other things around this area.
“So, this is going to be a centre of attraction after completion and it will beautify the city, and at the same time, those people that lost their lives will be remembered for life.
“Anybody that passes here will know that something happens at so so date. All things being equal, by God’s grace, this project will be completed before ending of May 2023.”
