The media team of the late governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has said the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, agreed for a cenotaph to be built for victims of a massacre near his palace.

MyNigeria recalls that 41 lives were lost in the terror attack on worshippers at St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, on June 5, 2022.

The site for their memorial was legitimately acquired and developed by the Ondo State Government and publicly designated as a Memorial Park to honour the victims of the terror attack.

In a statement, Akeredolu's media team said no bodies or corpses were buried at the memorial park, noting that the park was constructed to celebrate the lives and memories of the departed souls.

However, Akeredolu's successor, Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa, demolished the cenotaph after the Olowo of Owo allegedly complained that a monument celebrating death was situated too close to his palace, thereby defying tradition.

Reacting, Akeredolu's media team said, "Construction of the park began in March 2023 and was completed by June 2023. During this period, no objection or protest was raised from any quarter.

"Arakunrin Akeredolu chose that location because of its proximity to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owaluwa, the site of the horrific attack.

"Governor Akeredolu did not unilaterally impose the location of the Memorial Park. Extensive consultations were made.

"Before the construction started, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, convened a meeting with the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, his chiefs, and political appointees from Owo, where he outlined his vision for the park.

"Arakunrin Akeredolu explicitly stated that no corpses would be buried there and sought the Olowo’s approval.

"He also offered an alternative: if the Olowo was not comfortable with the proposed location, the park could be relocated to Ijebu-Owo or other areas in the town. The Olowo and his chiefs agreed on the chosen site.

"Aside engraving the names of the victims & the survivors at the park, he also had the intension of siting a museum and other facilities around the area, not only to be a centre of attraction, but to be a place where those people that lost their lives will be remembered for life.

"The sole vision of Arakunrin Akeredolu for the park was to immortalise the victims of the horrific attack, to ensure that their names and the pain of that day would never be erased from our memory, and nothing else."

ASA