Demolition of Owo Cenotaph: Akeredolu’s Widow Slams Olowo, Labels Him “Baby Oba”

The controversy surrounding the demolition of a cenotaph built in memory of the victims of the 2022 St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church attack in Owo has deepened, following strong remarks by Dr. Betty Akeredolu, widow of the late Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

During a visit to her husband’s gravesite on Tuesday, the former First Lady harshly criticized the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye, referring to him as a “baby Oba.” She accused the monarch and some community members of betraying the legacy of her late husband.

In a three-minute video shared on her official social media platforms, Akeredolu-Anyanwu, visibly emotional, expressed dismay over the demolition of the cenotaph, a symbolic structure built during Akeredolu’s tenure to honour victims of the tragic church massacre.

“Darling, you loved your people dearly. But see what they’ve done to your memory,” she said at the graveside. “Led by the Olowo of Owo, whom you single-handedly installed — this is no secret — they have rubbished your legacy.”

She further alleged that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa played a role in enabling the act, describing the demolition as politically motivated and unjustified.

The cenotaph, which stood in front of the Olowo’s palace, was reportedly brought down following opposition from the palace. Some traditionalists in Owo argued that the structure, seen as a symbol of death, was culturally inappropriate near the royal palace.

But Betty Akeredolu dismissed these claims, insisting the cenotaph was not a burial site but a symbolic monument. She accused the monarch of hypocrisy, pointing out that previous Olowos were buried in the palace grounds.

“The Oba who says he doesn’t want a so-called cemetery near him — but he sleeps with the dead,” she said. “All past Olowos were buried right there where he lives.”

She vowed to continue protecting her husband’s legacy, describing the cenotaph’s demolition as a grave insult to his memory and the victims of the attack.

The late Governor Akeredolu, who died in December 2023, was widely credited with decisive leadership during the turbulent period following the Owo church massacre, and the memorial had become a symbol of resilience and remembrance in the community.