Okpebholo leads EU, German envoys to Benin palace over MOWAA dispute

By Jethro Ibileke

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, on Monday led a delegation made up of the Head of European Union Delegation to Nigeria and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ambassador Gautier Mignot, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annette Günther, to the Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, over the crisis rocking the construction of the Museum for West African Art (MOWAA).

The peace meeting was sequel to an alleged attack on workers and officials of the museum by Benin youths on Sunday, November 9, 2025, during the preview ceremony of the Museum.

Speaking at the meeting, the Benin Monarch expressed surprise on how the former Governor Godwin Obaseki allegedly changed the initial name of the museum from the Benin Royal Museum to Edo Museum of West African Art and finally to the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA), which he said was gazetted to that effect.

The monarch, said the state governor Monday Okpebholo had informed him that he played the video before the European delegation and German Ambassador where the former Governor Obaseki promised to build the Benin Royal Museum.

He alleged that the former Governor deceived donor agencies and German country to collect money to build the Museum.

He also alleged that Obaseki was angry with him because he failed to sign documents to mortgage the rights of the palace and the Benin people of their ancestral artifacts.

“It is like history wanting to repeat itself. My forefathers suffered during the British invasion of 1897, and it is not fair that this is happening again. The documents they brought for me to sign would have taken away our rights to these artifacts, and I refused.

“My father and I. Please. I think maybe they will give you the speech I delivered in the governor’s office. Everything is also there to study. You will know the other from the video. It’s clear that the governor Obaseki came over there. They collected money from donors, national donors, the Germans, to build the Benin Royal Museum . Why change the name? Change to a different name. Just a different name and different structures”, he said.

He, however, urged the foreign visitors to cooperate with the Government of Edo State to resolve the crisis, stating that the governor of the state had set up a committee to investigate the operations and the governance structure of the Museum.

According to him, I want to tell you that Governor Okpebholo is already looking into the issue, and I want to appeal to you to cooperate with the government and also allow it to do the job.

The Oba, however, described Sunday’s protest as unfortunate and regrettable.

In an interview, the Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, said the visit was to engage more and strengthen partnership and cooperation with the state government and the Benin Palace.

Mignot said, though the European Union is not involved in the MOWAA project but that some of the member states, particularly German are involved.

“And we also touched upon the issue of the Project of Museum of West African Arts, where we were yesterday, some of us.

“And you know that some unfortunate incidents occurred then. And so we wanted very much to have His Royal Majesty’s views on this, and he shared with us his views.

“And I think we all exchanged in a spirit of dialogue and partnership, which is the spirit in which we want to take this matter further and all other matters”, he added.

On her part, Annette Günther, the German Ambassador to Nigeria , said her country exchanged views on several areas of cooperation with Edo State.

Günther said as part of the cooperation, the German country had returned 1,200 Benin bronzes to the Nigeria government.

She also listed other areas of cooperations with the Edo State to include the construction of skills development centres, centres of migration development as well as the training of 450 young Edo youths on Information Technology courses and cultural cooperation.

She said the graduation ceremony for the 450 youths would be held soon in the state.

“So we’re very proud of that move of our government. A number of those bronzes have already been returned, and they are here in Benin City with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, but more to come.

“And that’s why we are very much looking forward to continuing our cooperation with NCMM, with the state government, and also with the palace and his royal majesty, the Oba, on the further return of all those bronzes.

On the MOWAA, Günther, said German was very proud to be part and sponsor of the museum, noting that it is not only a museum but also a campus, a centre of cherishing Nigerian and Benin heritage and culture.

She explained that the project was to also make the heritage, culture, old and contemporary available to the people of Benin City, and to many foreign visitors.

The German Ambassador to Nigeria added that the facility would be an enormous attraction for tourism, industry, investors, researchers and for architects to come together.

While regretting the incident on Sunday, she opined that,”this wonderful place of cherishing heritage and culture can only exist and flourish if there is a peaceful environment.

“But we are looking forward to a peaceful future of EMOWAA and to a normal operation of MOWAA, and I will hopefully be seeing it also.

I was not there yesterday morning, but we are very happy to be here.
There are very many things that German and Nigeria and the people of Edo State can be proud of together, can celebrate together”, she said.

In his remarks, the State Governor, said a committee has been set up to investigate all the issues surrounding the museum.

Okpebholo assured that the reports of the committee would be such that will be fair to all parties.