• Berates Olowo as “Baby Oba” in emotional outburst 

By David Akinadewo-Adekahunsi 

It was a moment heavy with emotion and defiance on Wednesday as Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, widow of the late Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, visited his mausoleum in Owo, and publicly condemned the demolition of a symbolic monument erected in memory of victims of the 2022 Owo church massacre.

In a video shared on her official Facebook page, a grieving Mrs Akeredolu broke down in tears, expressing anguish and outrage over what she described as a calculated move to undermine her husband’s legacy.

She pointed fingers at the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, and the state governor, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa, accusing them of orchestrating the demolition and betraying the very man who, according to her, had once elevated the monarch to the throne.

She declared that it a known fact that her late husband singlehandedly installed that “Baby Oba”, referring to the Olowo.

Betty, who described Aiyedatiwa as the enabler, expressed her frustration at the development.

“Today, 25/6/25, I was at Aketi’s Mausoleum in Owo. AKETI LIVES ON,” she began, before launching into a stinging criticism of those behind the controversial act.

According to her, the demolished structure was a symbolic tribute, not a burial site created to honour the over 40 worshippers brutally murdered in the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo.

The massacre shook the nation and drew widespread international condemnation.

“Nobody, no corpse was buried in that place. It was symbolic,” she insisted, describing the monument as a promise fulfilled by her late husband, who had vowed to immortalise the victims.

She expressed disbelief that a town so deeply cherished by Akeredolu could turn against his memory in such a public and painful manner.

A visibly agitated Mrs Akeredolu also directed her ire at the Olowo, referencing traditional practices to highlight what she saw as a glaring hypocrisy.

“He sleeps with the dead — all the Olowos of Owo, where were they buried? Were they not buried in that place he’s living in? Look at the hypocrisy,” she said.

The now-demolished memorial had become a quiet symbol of collective grief and a reminder of one of the darkest chapters in the town’s history.

Its destruction at the weekend, however, has turned it into a flashpoint of political and cultural controversy.

Critics have begun to interpret the act as part of a broader effort to erase the symbols and memory of Akeredolu’s impactful administration, particularly in his hometown.

Throughout his time in office, Governor Akeredolu was known for his fearless stance on regional security, his championing of the Amotekun Corps, and his visible presence during moments of public crisis.

The attack in Owo was a personal blow for him, and his swift response including the construction of the monument, was widely seen as a testament to his commitment to the people.

Now, with tensions rising and voices of protest growing louder, many within Owo and beyond are watching developments with concern.

But for Betty Akeredolu, the struggle is not just political, it is deeply personal.

“I promise you, so long as I live, they will not succeed. They will not rubbish you. Aketi lives on!” she vowed, her voice trembling with pain and resolve.