MOWAA controversy: Obaseki speaks on alleged ‘scamming’ of Oba of Benin

By Jethro Ibileke

The immediate past Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has denied scamming the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, in the construction of the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA).

This is even as he explained that his administration did set out to build any museum, but to make the state earn revenue through culture and creative art, by providing the enabling environment for the investment to succeed.

The former Governor who explained this in a live online interview, also denied accompanig MOWAA to solicit for funds from donors.

He insisted that the Benin Royal Museum was part of the plan to build a cultural district, including the MOWAA Institute in Benin City.

He said: “Oba Erediauwa had a foresight. He set up a team to start negotiating return of the artefacts. This conversations started long before I became Governor. When I became the Governor, I asked why are we not making progress we are supposed to make…We came in to intervene between the Palace and the federal government.

“The state government was involved because Abuja is far away. Between 2017 and 2018, we attended meetings to start to understand what the issues were. In October 2018, I attended a meeting of the Benin Dialogue Group, the NCMM and representatives of the Oba of Benin led by Prof. Gregory Akenzua.

“At the meeting, we were told the works were fragile but we assrued them we will build faciities to accommodate the works. At no point in time the Edo State Government said they wanted artefacts. We only facilitated the process so that we can get these items back so that we can use them to attract people to our state.

“After the meeting, I said we cannot be discussing this subject in Europe all the time, let us come to Benin. In 2019, the foreigners came to Benin and gave us idea on what to do. As part of our strategy, we can create an enabling environment for arts and culture.

“Look at Victor Uwaifo creative hub, it was an abandoned warehouse. The Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre was idle. I said let us bring it back so that we can use it to encourage drama and acting which it was originally designed for.”

Obaseki also desmissed allegations that he diverted fund meant for the Royal Museum to build MOWAA, adding that the planned cultural district as part of Benin Ciy master plan had the Royal Musuem.

“There is a plan for a cultural district for the Benin Masterplan. There was supposed to be a plan that will redefine the city centre. You had the MOWAA Institute, the Rain Forest Gallery, the 1897 memorial, the National Musuem, and the Royal Musuem. All these things have been planned for. The Oba told me has has acquired a land for the purpose and we said we will support the project and any activity that promote Edo as a cultural hub.

“As far as I am concerned, I am not a trustee of MOWAA. My role as Governor was to support institutions. Whether it is EMOWAA or MOWAA, what is Mr business about that? Is it my own? That is their decision. The important thing is the objective and we gave support as a government,” he explained.

Narrating what transpired with the Benin Moarch, Obaseki said, “The roles of Edo State government under my watch are clear. We did the things in the way we do in a certain way. Building musuems was not a priority of the state government. I cannot take money I want to use to build schools to go and build musuems. What I will do is to use that money create an enabling environment and allow people who know how to build musuems. I will collaborate with them to build musuems.

“MOWAA has raised over €80m. Does Edo State have that kind of money? I will not use that money for musuem. I will support the initiative, give them land, an enabling environment and funds.

“We carried the palace along. We told the palace we will have more say if we have something which represent the federal government, the state government and the Palace. I said we should set up a trust of the National Museum, the Palace, foreign musiem and the state government. That was what we started with. I nominated the Crown Prince, gave him a letter, he took it to the father and the father gave him his blessings. We set up a non-charitable trust. The foreigners need someone they can see through. Let the Crown Prince represent the Trustee from the Palace and there was no objection. At a certain point, there were misinformation. We went to Germany and that was where the whole thing went sour. I dont know what happened internally and the Monarch was not happy. The Palace then withdrew from the Trust. I said ok. He said he wants to have his own Royal Museum and we said we will support. I understand the Oba acquired land opposite the palace.

“MOWAA is not my own just like many of the things we invested in are not mine but as long as it brings investment to Edo State and grow economy of the state, it was incumbent to support MOWAA. Government money cannot develop a state.

“How many states can attract that kind of investment in MOWAA today. With that investment being there, see how much that would have come to Edo in that weekend. We can have another economy that is not dependent on oil revenue. The money to be received will be local revenue. This is one thing that could lead to tourism revenue. Look at the injection into the economy and the original capital is not Edo money. We should have advanced beyond where we are now. It is unreasonable for any Edo man to justify what happened

“As far as I am concerned, I am not a trustee of MOWAA. My role as Governor was to support institutions. Whether it is EMOWAA or MOWAA, what is Mr business about that? Is it my own? That is their decision. The important thing is the objective and we gave support.

“When they said they wanted MOWAA, Benin empire expanded to Ghana and for me from a marketing stand point, it made sense for a museum that represented West Africa. It made sense rather making it Benin, we can expand it. The important thing is that it is located and the benefit will be enjoyed be Edo people.

“That somebody will take $50 million, how many states can attract that kind of investment today. With that investment being there, our plan is Edo 100,000 peoole coming to MOWAA and each of. They will come. They will eat, stay in hotel ground and spend money tl buy things. Almost every hotel was booked for that event. All the taxi drivers, Igun Street casters. See how much that woukd have come to Edo in that weekend. We can have another economy that is not dependent on oil revenue. The money to be receivd will be local revenue. This is one thing that could lead to tourism revenue. Look at the injection into tbe economy and the original capital is not Edo money. We should have advanced beyond where we are now. It is unreasonable for any Edo man to justify what happened that weekend,” he concluded.