Edo Group Ask Gov Okpebholo to Return Central Hospital to MOWAA
Iyamu Culture Osaro (Left) with the protesters
By Reporter
Aiguobasinmwin Movement, a cultural group, today November 14, 2024, protested to the public places, including Edo State Government House and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Edo State Council Secretariat, where they demanded the conversion of the ongoing Museum of West Africa Art (MOWAA) to Central Hospital which original building was demolished by the administration of ex Governor Godwin Obaseki. They also demanded for discontinuation of the ongoing construction.
The youths led by Iyamu Culture Osaro in their hundreds, took their protest to major streets of Benin City, the state capital as they called on the newly sworn in Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo, to intervene and revoke the Certificate of Occupancy wrongly granted to the MOWAA.
Culture, who is the founder of Aiguobasinmwin Movement, and Secretary General, Mr. Osayuki-Osa Benson, accused the ex-governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, of deliberately diverting the funds meant for the construction of Benin Royal Museum to build MOWAA, on the site of the old central hospital.
Iyamu described the alleged action of Obaseki as working against the construction of Benin Royal Museum as a sacrilegious act.
“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 Culture said.
The cultural ambassador pleaded with Okpebholo to “immediately set machinery in motion in view of supporting the revered Benin Palace to construct the proposed Benin Royal Museum.”
The group equally requested the state government to begin the immediate renovation of Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre that was shut down by Obaseki to due to his interest in the Benin artefacts.
MOWAA is registered as a private nonprofit trustee owned and operated by the Museum of West African Art LTD/GTE and have Phillip Ihenacho, Dr. Myma Belo-Osagie, Dr. Eric Idiahi, Victor Ehikhamenor and Ore Disu as Directors
Others are Ebele Okobi, John Adeyemi Adeleke, Dr. Ike Chioke who is the Group Managing Director, Afrinvest West Africa Limited, Mariane Ibrahim and Amaechi Uzoigwe.
