Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has clarified the circumstances surrounding the demolition of the cenotaph built in honour of victims of the 2022 Owo church attack, explaining that the memorial was erected without official government approval and on land owned by the Olowo of Owo.
Speaking during an interview with Seun Okinbaloye, Aiyedatiwa said the controversy over the cenotaph dates back to a period before his administration and stemmed from disagreements between some government officials at the time and the traditional ruler of Owo.
Addressing concerns about why the memorial was pulled down, the governor maintained that the structure did not have proper approval when it was put up.
“That cenotaph was not approved by the government when it was constructed; there was an issue at the time,” he said.
He further explained that the land where the memorial stood belonged to the Olowo of Owo, adding that its placement directly opposite the palace was considered inappropriate.
“The land actually belonged to the Olowo of Owo, and for some reasons, some actors in government at the time, because of the issues they had with the Olowo, went ahead to call his bluff and built the cenotaph in front of the palace, which is a taboo,” he stated.
Aiyedatiwa also distanced himself from the demolition decision, insisting he neither ordered nor authorized it.
“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,’” Aiyedatiwa said.
The cenotaph was originally constructed to honour victims of the June 2022 attack on a Catholic church in Owo, one of the deadliest incidents in Ondo State’s recent history.
Its demolition has since sparked public outrage and renewed debate over the handling of the memorial site.
