On the Owo Memorial Park, Aiyedatiwa M!sfired,Says Late Akeredolu ‘s Aide

Though it came as no surprise, Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s latest misadventure regarding the demolished Memorial Park built in honour of the June 5, 2022, slain worshippers of St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, revealed two things: it is either a deliberate peddling of falsehood and denigration of the integrity of the victims and that of the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, or another failed and warped attempt to misinform the populace.

Both inferences are disturbing, as they represent ignorance and shameful dishonesty. This response, therefore, seeks to subtly educate unsuspecting members of the public who may be hoodwinked by the lies told by Governor Aiyedatiwa on national television.

When Seun Okinbaloye of Channels TV’s “Politics Today” asked Governor Aiyedatiwa why his administration demolished the Memorial Park built in honour of the victims of the June 5, 2022 terror attack, the Governor claimed that the land where the memorial park was built was not approved by the government.

It is laughable that such blatant lies would ooze from the mouth of a governor. How is it possible that a Governor of the status of the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu would build a memorial park on land not approved by the government? The memorial park was built with contributions made by public spirited individuals after the horrific attack. Every penny spent on the project was released through the State Ministry of Finance. Aside from that, Governor Akeredolu not only witnessed the foundation laying of the project alongside the then Minister of state for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, but also inspected it from foundation to completion. The Odopetu of Akure Kingdom, Architect Femi Bello was the Architect who designed the Park.

How else could the government have shown its involvement and approval more than the former Governor personally witnessing the foundation laying and inspecting the construction all the way to completion?

The mischievous narrative being pushed by Governor Aiyedatiwa that the land belongs to the Olowo of Owo is a calculated attempt to drag the palace into the controversy and exonerate himself. The said land was acquired by the Mimiko led administration during the dualisation of the Owo township road. The Mimiko administration later did not use the land. Some Igbo and Hausa traders afterwards found the location suitable for a market. That continued until the Akeredolu administration took interest in developing the land alongside the museum adjacent it.

Meanwhile, at some point before the Owo attack occurred, the Olowo approached the Governor and requested that the land be allocated to him. The land was later allocated to a registered company owned by the Olowo of Owo, AGO MORE. After the allocation, the family of Ademola Aladenika wrote a petition to the Governor, stating that since the land was originally acquired from them for public use by the Mimiko administration, it should be returned to them if it was no longer being used for overriding public interest. To ensure that the state erred on the side of caution, Governor Akeredolu directed the Ministry of Infrastructure, Lands and Housing to revoke the allocation from the Olowo after proper and due consultation and explanation to the highly respected monarch. The land was therefore, duly revoked.

The decision to demolish the memorial park was solely made by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. The late Governor Akeredolu had planned to invite President Bola Tinubu, who was then the presidential candidate of the APC to commission the park, but his sickness, however, cut short the plans.

Governor Lucky also claimed that the memorial park was a taboo against the culture of Owo despite the fact that he is fully aware that not a single soul was buried there. It was a memorial park meant to honour the victims of the attack. No body was buried there.

On the issue of him also being under attack during that period, Governor Aiyedatiwa falsely claimed that he was fighting impeachment at the time. It is public knowledge that the impeachment issue started around late September 2023. The impeachment notice letter is still available across social media platforms. Claiming that he was facing impeachment proceedings at the time the construction of the memorial park commenced in 2022 is another pointer that this Governor lies with ease. Such a shame.

What is even more worrisome is that the Governor promised to build another memorial park at a new location, yet up till now, there is no indication that anything of such is being done.

We are calling on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to stop insulting the memory of Governor Akeredolu and the victims of the June 5, 2022 attack in Owo.