A former governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has denied allegations that he is a trustee of the Museum of West African Arts, adding that he didn’t misappropriate funds raised in the name of the Benin Royal Museum for the museum project.
Obaseki, in an online interview on Friday, explained that he never accompanied MOWAA to solicit donations but provided an enabling environment for the project to succeed.
He stated that his administration did not set out to build any museum directly, but focused on making Edo a revenue-generating hub through culture and creative arts.
Highlighting the Benin Royal Museum as part of a broader plan to establish a cultural district—including the MOWAA Institute—Obaseki insisted he never defrauded the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II.
He said, “Oba Erediauwa had foresight. He set up a team to start negotiating the return of the artefacts. These conversations began long before I became governor. When I assumed office, I asked why progress was slow and we intervened between the Palace and the federal government.
“Between 2017 and 2018, we attended meetings to understand the issues. In October 2018, I attended a meeting of the Benin Dialogue Group, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, and representatives of the Oba of Benin led by Prof. Gregory Akenzua.
“At the meeting, we were told the works were fragile but assured them we would build facilities to accommodate them. At no point did the Edo State Government claim ownership of the artefacts. We only facilitated the process to ensure these items returned to attract visitors to our state.”
Dismissing claims that funds meant for the Benin Royal Museum were diverted to MOWAA, Obaseki outlined the state’s cultural district plan as part of the Benin City master plan, noting the inclusion of the Royal Museum, MOWAA Institute, Rain Forest Gallery, 1897 Memorial, and National Museum.
“The Oba informed us he had acquired land for the Benin Royal Museum, and we pledged support for any project promoting Edo as a cultural hub.
“As far as I am concerned, I am not a trustee of MOWAA. My role as Governor is to support institutions. Whether it is EMOWAA or MOWAA, that is their decision. The important thing is achieving the objective, and we gave support as a government,” he said.
Obaseki added that the state government’s role was to create an enabling environment rather than directly fund museums.
“I cannot take money meant for schools to build museums. What I do is provide support and collaborate with experts to make these projects succeed,” he said.
Meanwhile, the state Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and institutional integrity amid the ongoing MOWAA controversy.
Speaking on Friday while receiving the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, at the Government House in Benin City, Okpebholo assured that the state would not hesitate to prosecute any wrongdoing uncovered in the project.
He said, “We are not fighting investors. Our duty is to protect Edo State and, by extension, Nigeria. There will be no hiding place for criminals in our land.”
Okpebholo revealed that documents obtained by the state indicated major changes to MOWAA’s registration details just six days before his swearing-in, describing the move as suspicious.
He also noted that the state government was never informed about the presence of expatriates invited for a commissioning ceremony, which he said reinforced concerns about the project’s lack of transparency.
In her remarks, Musawa commended Edo State for its historic contributions to Nigeria’s cultural identity, praising the Edo people’s intellectual heritage and the global significance of Benin’s cultural legacy.
She acknowledged federal awareness of the MOWAA issues and pledged a collaborative approach to resolving what she described as “an original sin” to restore dignity to traditional institutions and protect Nigeria’s international cultural reputation.
