A cultural group, the Aiguobasinmwin Movement, on Thursday, protested to the Edo State Government House and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Edo State Council Secretariat, demanding a halt to the ongoing construction of the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA).

The youths, in their hundreds, also marched through major streets of Benin, the state capital, calling on the Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo, to intervene and revoke the Certificate of Occupancy of the MOWAA site.

Founder/President of Aiguobasinmwin Movement, Mr. Iyamu Osaro Culture, and Secretary General, Mr. Osayuki-Osa Benson, who led the group on a peaceful protest, alleged that the former state governor, Godwin Obaseki, deliberately diverted the money meant for the construction of Benin Royal Museum to build his private museum known as MOWAA, which is situated within the premises of the old central hospital.

Iyamu described the purported action of the former Governor Godwin Obaseki, working against the construction of Benin Royal Museum to build his private museum known as MOWAA, as a sacrilegious act.

He said, “We are here today with the evidence before us to inform you that Obaseki deliberately diverted the money meant for the construction of Benin Royal Museum to build his private museum known as MOWAA, which is situated within the premises of the old central hospital.

“It will interest you to know that this Obaseki sacrilegious act started two years ago when he went for Art Exhibition Programmes in Germany and other European countries, wherein they announced the release of funds as part of their support for the construction of Benin Royal Museum as proposed by our God’s King, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II, Oba of Benin Kingdom.

“Having gotten the brief from the German officials and European leaders, the former governor came to Nigeria, Edo State, to front his private NGO called Legacy Restoration Trust Ltd, as against Oba Ewuare Foundation, which he later changed to EMOWAA-MOWAA in a bid to using it as a tool to secure the release of the money diverted to build his private museum (MOWAA) instead of Benin Royal Museum. Sadly, the said money was eventually released to Obaseki, which he diverted to build his private museum (MOWAA).

“In light of the above, we want to humbly appeal to His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Monday Okpebholo, to immediately revoke the C-of-O of the dubious MOWAA and convert it to People’s Hospital (General Hospital).”

Iyamu appealed to the Okpebholo-led government to immediately set machinery in motion in view of supporting the revered Benin Palace to construct the proposed Benin Royal Museum.

The group also called on the state government to begin the renovation of Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre that was shut down by the former governor over matters relating to the ownership of Benin artefacts.

MOWAA Institute’s Director, Ore Disu, could not be reached at the time of filing this report, but a source close to the Institute’s Director said that MOWAA is an independent nonprofit entity owned and operated by the Museum of West African Art LTD/GTE and presided over by an independent Board of Directors.