Dr. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, widow of the late Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has strongly condemned Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for ordering the demolition of the Owo Catholic Church massacre memorial.
The monument, erected by her late husband, stood as a solemn tribute to the victims of the June 5, 2022, massacre at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo. In a statement posted on her X (formerly Twitter) handle on Wednesday, Dr. Anyanwu-Akeredolu described the demolition as an act of “profound insensitivity” and “moral bankruptcy.”
She expressed shock and disappointment, questioning the decision to replace the memorial with what the state government termed a “world-class shopping complex.” According to her, erasing such a symbol of collective grief and healing for commercial gain shows a disturbing lack of empathy and leadership.
“A world-class society does not erase its pain to make way for profit,” she wrote. “What kind of leadership defiles the memory of innocent souls in such a callous manner? This is not just a political blunder; it is an affront to decency and a deep insult to the victims and their families.”
Dr. Anyanwu-Akeredolu further stated that the monument was not just a structure but a representation of justice, remembrance, and the humanity her late husband stood for.
Taking a swipe at Governor Aiyedatiwa, she said, “Lucky Aiyedatiwa has shown us who he truly is, and history will remember.”
Reacting to a similar demolition of a property linked to Peter Obi’s brother by the Lagos State Government, she lamented the emerging pattern of “demolition politics,” remarking, “Like Lagos, like Owo… we are in the season of demolition.”
She ended her statement with a stinging rebuke: “An honorary doctorate cannot mask a glaring absence of humanity and scholarship.”
Her comments have since triggered widespread reactions across social media, with many Nigerians expressing anger and disappointment over the demolition.
