The Olowo-in-Council has officially addressed the widespread public reactions trailing the recent demolition of the Owo Memorial Park, a monument built in memory of the victims of the June 5, 2022, terrorist attack at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo.
In a statement monitored on the official Facebook page of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, via the verified Owo Kingdom social media platform, the palace made it clear that the demolition was a deliberate move requested by the monarch himself and backed by the general will of the Owo people.
The palace emphasized that the original decision to site the memorial near the palace was strongly resisted by the Olowo-in-Council and rejected by the larger Owo community from the onset. According to the statement, the initiative—conceived and implemented under the administration of the late Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON—was culturally insensitive and contrary to the age-long traditions of the kingdom.
“All appeals to the late Governor that erecting a structure commemorating the dead in proximity to the palace goes against Owo’s customs were rebuffed,” the palace noted. “At one point, protests were staged by concerned youths and key stakeholders to register their displeasure, but these too were ignored.”
Reinforcing its stance, the palace pointed to the overwhelming public support received following the demolition as validation of its long-held position. “The deluge of commendations across media platforms clearly shows that the people have always been against the siting of that structure,” the statement read.
The Olowo-in-Council further disclosed that it would soon publish a comprehensive account detailing all the events and consultations that preceded the construction and eventual removal of the monument.
Meanwhile, the palace cautioned critics not to direct their grievances toward the current Governor of Ondo State, Hon. (Dr.) Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, insisting he merely acted in alignment with the wishes of the people and the traditional authority.
“The Governor should not be blamed. He is a listening leader who honoured the voice of the people. The palace stands fully behind the decision,” the statement added.
This development once again brings to the fore the delicate balance between modern memorials and the deep-rooted cultural ethos of traditional communities like Owo, where the sanctity of royal grounds remains a matter of high spiritual and historical significance.
