Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has responded to the condemnation by the Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Jude Arogundade, regarding the demolition of the Owo memorial park built in honour of victims of the 2022 St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church attack in Owo.
The governor stated that the bishop should have sought proper clarification before publicly criticising the action.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, Governor Aiyedatiwa explained that the demolition was carried out to preserve the cultural integrity of Owo Kingdom.
He emphasised that the memorial park, constructed during the administration of late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, symbolised death—a concept contrary to Owo’s traditions.
The governor further clarified that the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye, is the rightful owner of the land where the cenotaph was erected. He revealed that the state government revoked the land after discovering procedural irregularities in its acquisition for the memorial project.
“The demolition was necessary to restore the dignity of Owo’s culture and the original purpose of the site,” Aiyedatiwa stated. “At the time of construction, there was no official revocation of the land from AgroMore. The government later identified the errors in the land acquisition process.”
The governor assured that his administration remains respectful of the victims’ memory but stressed the importance of adhering to traditional and legal protocols. He called for understanding and urged stakeholders to engage in dialogue to resolve the matter amicably. The demolition of the Owo memorial park has continued to generate mixed reactions, with some residents supporting the government’s decision while others express concern over the handling of the memorial site.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
