Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has accused the immediate past administration of operating the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) project in secrecy, lamenting that his government was not notified of the recent visit by European envoys linked to the initiative.
The governor stated this in Benin City on Monday while receiving a delegation of European diplomats led by the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, and the German Ambassador, Dr. Annett Günther, at the Government House.
Okpebholo, who later accompanied the delegation to the Palace of the Oba of Benin, said the visit came as a surprise, adding that it exposed the lack of transparency that had plagued the MOWAA project since inception.
“I wasn’t informed about the foreign delegation’s visit,” he said. “We have since met with the Oba of Benin, who has clarified his position. The entire situation underscores the opacity that characterized the handling of the project by the previous administration.”
The governor said his administration had set up a committee to review the MOWAA project and make recommendations on the next steps.
He also criticised the former government for what he described as “gross lack of openness,” questioning how the project evolved “from Benin Royal Museum to EMOWAA, and now MOWAA” without stakeholder consultation.
“The state government was never briefed on the ownership, financials, or structure of the project,” Okpebholo said. “Even His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin, expressed serious reservations about its execution.”
The governor also faulted the demolition of the old Central Hospital in Benin to make way for MOWAA, saying, “We are proud of our cultural heritage, but why should a functioning hospital be destroyed for a museum? Development must be people-centred.”
At the Oba’s Palace, EU Ambassador Mignot said the delegation’s visit was aimed at strengthening cooperation with Edo State. He clarified that while the EU had no direct investment in MOWAA, some of its member states, including Germany, were involved.
German Ambassador Günther praised the state for its hospitality and reaffirmed her country’s commitment to supporting youth empowerment, migration management, and the preservation of cultural heritage, including the return of over 1,200 Benin Bronzes.
She said: “This wonderful heritage project can only thrive in a peaceful and transparent environment. We regret recent misunderstandings but hope for a stable and cooperative future.”
The Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare II, condemned the handling of MOWAA, accusing former governor Godwin Obaseki of attempting to “mortgage” the rights of the Benin people over their cultural artifacts.
Governor Okpebholo assured that his administration would act in fairness and transparency. “Edo’s culture and heritage must be preserved, not politicized,” he said.
Okpebholo Berates Obaseki Over MOWAA Secrecy, Says Edo Govt Was Not Briefed on EU Envoys’ Visit
