OV. Monday Okpebholo of Edo on Monday received two ambassadors to Nigeria over the protest by indigenes of Benin in the siting of a museum outside the Oba’s palace to house artifacts returned from Europe.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ambassadors are the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Gautier Mignot and the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Annett Günther.
Benin indigenes are insisting that the museum should have been sited within the palace since the artifacts were stolen from the palace, when the Europeans invaded Benin Kingdom in 1897.
They argued that siting the museum by the immediate administration of Godwin Obaseki outside the palace was disrespectful to their ancestors, Oba Ewuare 11 and the Benin Kingdom customs and traditions.
The governor told the visitors that his administration was not informed or involved in the museum tagged, Museum of West Africa Art (MOWAA) by Obaseki-led administration.
Okpebholo said that his administration had constituted a committee to thoroughly investigate the MOWAA project and make recommendations on the way forward
The governor described the issues surrounding the project as a “gross lack of transparency” by the immediate past administration.
He said: “The controversy surrounding MOWAA stems from the lack of openness by the previous government.
“It is curious how the project evolved from the Benin Royal Museum to the Edo Museum of West African Art (EMOWAA) and now MOWAA, without consultation with our revered traditional institution.”
Okpebholo said the state government was neither briefed on the project’s ownership structure nor its operational details, adding that even the Oba of Benin had personally expressed concern over its handling.
“I know nothing about its transactions or agreements,” he said.
While reaffirming his administration’s openness to partnership, the governor emphasised that transparency and respect for the Benin Kingdom were not negotiable.
“We welcome foreign collaborations, but everything must be transparent and must honour our traditions,” he said.
He condemned the demolition of part of the historic Central Hospital in Benin to make way for MOWAA, noting: “Why destroy a functioning hospital to build a museum?
” We are proud of our heritage, but development must be responsible and people-centred.
“Edo people are peace-loving, but will not condone secrecy or actions that undermine our culture and institutions,” he told the visitors.
Okpebholo later led the delegation on a courtesy visit to the Palace of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II.
Speaking at the palace, the governor described the development as another example of the “lack of transparency” that had surrounded the MOWAA project since its inception.
He told the Oba that the ambassadors and their colleagues from the Netherlands and Belgium were in the state to see His Royal Majesty and sought amicable resolution to the issues.
The governor, after the visit to the palace, told reporters the Oba had stated his side of the story.
Ambassador Mignot said the mission of the delegation was to pay homage to the Oba of Benin and strengthen cooperation with the Edo people.
“We have just paid a courtesy call to His Royal Majesty to present our greetings and explain the reason for our visit, which is to deepen our partnership with the state.
“We also discussed the MOWAA project and the unfortunate incident that occurred; we exchanged views in the spirit of dialogue, ” Mignot said. (NAN)
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