Former First Lady of Ondo State, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has condemned Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa over the demolition of a memorial built to honour victims of the Owo church massacre, describing it as a “desecration of sacred ground” and “an affront to decency.”
In a strongly worded statement shared on her official Facebook page on Monday, the widow of late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, accused the Aiyedatiwa administration of moral bankruptcy and insensitivity for pulling down the monument, which was erected in the heart of Owo in memory of the victims of the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack at St. Francis Catholic Church.
“To now dismiss it as having ‘no economic value,’ and to demolish it for a so-called ‘world-class shopping complex,’ reveals a disturbing level of moral decay,” Mrs. Akeredolu wrote.
“A world-class society does not erase its pain to make way for profit. It preserves memory, honors the dead, and builds with conscience.”
The memorial was commissioned under the administration of the late Governor Akeredolu and stood as a symbol of collective grief and healing for the people of Owo and Ondo State at large.
Recall that the attack in 2022 left over 40 worshippers dead and many others injured, drawing national and international outrage. Akeredolu, who was then governor, personally visited the scene and vowed that the tragedy would not be forgotten.
Mrs. Akeredolu stated that her husband’s decision to erect the monument was a reflection of his leadership style, one rooted in empathy and justice.
“This evil act is not just a political misstep; it is an insult to the victims, a disrespect to their families, and a dishonor to a governor who governed with empathy,” she said.
She also expressed support for those who spoke out against the demolition, particularly Richard Olatunde, who served as chief press Secretary to the late governor.
“I thank Richard Olatunde and all those who have lent their voices to truth and justice. History will be kind to you,” she noted.
Firing more shots at the Aiyedatiwa administration, the former First Lady dismissed the justification given for the demolition as “tone-deaf and inhumane.”
“How daft can one be to assume that the value of life, memory, and honor must be measured by profit margins?” she queried. “An honorary doctorate cannot mask a glaring absence of humanity and scholarship.”
Governor Aiyedatiwa, who served as deputy to Akeredolu before succeeding him following his death in December 2023, is yet to personally respond to the outcry. His administration had earlier defended the demolition, stating that the memorial site would be used for a new commercial complex intended to boost local economic activities in Owo.
However, Mrs. Akeredolu insists that no economic justification can outweigh the importance of memory and moral obligation to victims of such a national tragedy.
“Lucky Aiyedatiwa has shown us who he is and history, too, will remember,” she concluded
