Trouble was well prepared against initial threats by armed security personnel who attempted to restrain Edo State youths from disrupted the opening of Godwin Obaseki-backed Museum of West African Art, MOWAA in Benin City, Sunday morning in Benin City, Edo State.
The presence of the Commissioner of Police in the State, CP Monday Agbonika and armed Department of State Security Service, DSS operatives who battle the crowd, however did not deter the youths from the storming and disrupting the event that has barely kick-off.
Chairman of MOWAA Board of Trustees, Philip Ihenacho who represented former Governor Godwin Obaseki and their international business partners ― racing against the Benin throne and the State government, who had both urged that the opening of the Museum should be suspended, pending the Independent probe panel set up by the State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo and the House of Assembly to ascertain the ownership status and other issues of public interest surrounding the multi-billion project.
But some expatrates, including ― so-called, ‘international tourists, archeologists, curators, artists, historians, relics’ collectors, culture activists, and exhibitionists’, were hurriedly hurled through the emergency wing of MOWAA edifice into a waiting security vehicle, parked behind the premises, upon sensing danger, to a nearby Protea Hotel near the Police headquarters, ahead of their departure via the Benin airport to their destinations.
Concerned Edo youths who described the move as not only an invitation to anarchy, decried attempt by intruders to undermining the authority of Benin monarchy in a manner reminiscent of 1987 invasion on Benin.
It was learnt that the session was invaded shortly after guests had finished taking their breakfast to settle down for the day’s business.
The angry youths in defence of the great Benin throne, defied the presence of security agents who exhibited restraints during their parade, invaded MOWAA, which was formerly dubbed Edo Museum of West African Art, EMOWAA under Obaseki’s government.
The botched ceremony that neither had the endorsement of the Oba of Benin nor Federal government or State government, became a subject it public scrutiny and controversy after the Management of the so-called non-profit MOWAA, announced November 11th 2025 date for the clandestine project inauguration, Sunday November 10.
TheNewspad reports that MOWAA Management, had embark on a wiled goose chase, after reportedly receiving a donations over $30 million from the German Government, the US Government, the British Government, the Melon Foundation, Ford Foundation, the French Government, the Getty Foundation and several other organizations in addition to over N3.8 billion Edo tax layers money towards its construction project during Obaseki’s tenure in office, according to dependable sources.
Last week Friday, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, CRF, a trusted King in victory, paid a Royal visit to Governor Monday Okpebholo in Edo State Government House in the State Capital, where a grim story of alleged betrayal by Obaseki was nailed to the cross via a 7-minutes footage where Obaseki had pledge to support the building of Benin Royal Museum to House all the returned Benin artefacts during the second Coronation of the royal father, stunned everyone.
Driven by alleged greed, the former Governor, however made a U-turn after he lost out in his quest to allegedly re-loot the repatriated Benin bronzes after the Nigerian Government of Muhammadu Buhari, vested the ownership, custody and Management of the priceless artworks in a Gazette, and made U-turn in conivance with
the former Director General of National Commission for Museums and Monuments, NCMM, Tijani Abbas, by committing to MOWAA concept, which seems to have been buried in the boneyard of human history by demolishing the former Central hospital complex that was built in 1906 to pave the way for the Museum.
