Okpebholo, Oba of Benin present messy evidence against MOWAA amid project revocation plan

The Edo governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo and Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, CFR, Oba of Benin have presented a messy evidence that would likely entangle, change the ownership and management structure of the proposed Museum of West African Art, MOWAA in Benin.

The multi-billion Naira MOWAA project, which was designed by past administration of Godwin Obaseki, who during his tenure in office, may now be known as Benin Royal Museum in Benin City despite reneging on his earlier promise to the Oba of Benin, ahead of the current administration.

MOWAA concept was buried in the boneyard of human history when paid a Royal solidarity visit to Edo State Government House on Friday in Benin City, ahead of the planned commissioning of the project by its Management.

Governor Okpebholo gave the telling verdict said MOWAA would be handed over to the rightful owner, after watching a 7-minute video where Obaseki pledge to build the Benin Royal Museum and acknowledge the support from foreign donors towards the project during his remarks at the second Coronation anniversary of Oba Ewuare in October 2018.

He promised to engaged President Bola Tinubu with the convincing evidence at the Villa and inform him about the alleged betrayal of Oba Ewuare’s trust by Obaseki regarding the issue at staked and ensure that the monument is handed over to the undisputed owner thereafter.

According to the Governor, “Your Majesty, Obaseki has helped to make my speech. I am happy that the State Attorney-General of Edo State is sitting here. The leader of the Legislative Arm is also here”.

“And the video I watched, I saw practically every Edo people that matter in that video were present. So, the issue of MOWAA is over. Your Majesty, Benin property is your property. I am going to take this video along with me to show Mr President.

“Mr President respects culture and he is your in-law. I do not think that Mr President will ever criminals against the Palace who has the right to take possession of all repatriated Benin artefacts which have started returning”, Okpebholo said.

Earlier in his remarks, Oba Ewuare called on the Governor and President Bola Tinubu to investigate and rename the historical monument to the Benin Royal Museum, as was originally conceptualized.

He alleged that the former Director General of National Commission for Museums and Monuments, NCMM, Tijani Abbas in conivance with the former Governor, conspired against the Benin palace and signed some documents on his behalf towards the Benin Royal Museum.

Oba Ewuare II also gave the background on some issues between the Benin throne and the former Governor, stated that MOWAA, which he claimed was laced with fraud and lacked transparency, was formerly conceived to the Benin Royal Museum that is meant to house all the repatriated Benin artefacts to Nigeria.

The first Class traditional ruler said, “as a Diplomat, I carried the struggle of my father and grand father for the return of looted Benin artefacts to the palace. I travelled to far corners of the globe”.

“I invited by the then Governor, Godwin Obaseki in 2017 after he was sworn-in. I intimated him how far my father and I have been fighting for the return of the stolen Benin artefacts.

“I solicited his collaboration – being the Governor of the State, and we the new Oba on the throne. He (Obaseki) promptly agreed to support this effort. But on my second Coronation anniversary, he (Obaseki) came to meet me.

He (Obaseki) surprised everyone when he said that he had a meeting with the Benin Dialogue Group and said that some Museums and international donors were already cooperating with him for the setting up of the Benin Royal Museum. He said that he has invited them for their next meeting in Benin.

“Everyone applauded him. Somehow, I had a bad feeling about about it as if something was going wrong or something was going to go wrong. As if my ancestors were prompting me not to believe the story.

“During Covid-19, I found out that there was evil plan and that a lot of money was coming for artefacts to the palace. But they decided to divert it to their own.

“Suddenly, I saw that they co-opted my eldest son into their conspiracy because of the fact that if they see him as the Crown Prince of Benin that could serve as a proof that they are collaborating with the Oba Palace. They would have succeeded in convincing international donors particularly the German government.

After they constituted the Legacy Restoration Trust where they promise to give him a Board seat. The German government which did not event understand our tradition. They did not care to find out for reason best known to them because they were having interest of their own in Benin artefacts and conceded”, Oba Ewuare II said.