Our reporter
Members of the Aiguobasinmwin Movement on Thursday marched through the streets of Benin City, calling on the Edo State Government to stop the on-going construction of the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA).
The demonstrators, hundreds strong, voiced concerns that the project is undermining plans for the long-proposed Benin Royal Museum, intended to honour the cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom.
Led by the movement’s President, Mr. Iyamu Osaro Culture, and Secretary-General, Mr. Osayuki-Osa Benson, the group presented their demands to the Edo State Government House and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Edo State Council.
They urged the newly inaugurated Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, to intervene by revoking the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for the MOWAA site and redirecting resources towards the Benin Royal Museum.
Mr. Iyamu accused former Governor Godwin Obaseki of diverting funds originally allocated for the Benin Royal Museum to establish MOWAA as a private initiative.
According to Iyamu, Obaseki used international partnerships and grants intended to preserve Benin cultural heritage to fund the construction of MOWAA instead.
“This museum was supposed to be a tribute to our ancestors and a center of pride for the Benin Kingdom,” Iyamu said. “Instead, Mr. Obaseki has turned it into his personal project, using funds secured for the Benin Royal Museum. This is a betrayal of our people’s trust.”
Iyamu added that the project’s funds were initially allocated after European organizations committed to supporting the Benin Royal Museum during an art exhibition tour attended by Obaseki in Germany and other European countries. Upon his return, Iyamu alleges, Obaseki redirected the funds to MOWAA through a non-profit called Legacy Restoration Trust Ltd., later renamed EMOWAA-MOWAA.
In their petition to Governor Okpebholo, the Aiguobasinmwin Movement demanded that the MOWAA building be repurposed as a public hospital to address pressing healthcare needs.
They further called on the State government to work with the Benin Palace in realising the Benin Royal Museum project and to renovate the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre, closed under the previous administration amid a dispute regarding the ownership of Benin artifacts.
While attempts to reach MOWAA Institute’s Director, Ore Disu, were unsuccessful, an insider noted that MOWAA operates independently as a nonprofit organization overseen by a board of directors.
Responding to the protests, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade (Dr.) Festus Alenkhe, praised the demonstrators for conducting a peaceful protest and pledged the NUJ’s commitment to publicising their grievances.
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