Former Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, has firmly rejected claims that he defrauded the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare II, in connection with the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) project.
Speaking in a monitored interview, Obaseki stressed that he was neither a trustee of MOWAA nor involved in fundraising for the organisation. He explained that his administration’s role was simply to create an enabling environment for cultural investment, not to run or manage museum projects directly.
According to him, the state government envisioned a broader cultural district for Benin City, incorporating the Benin Royal Museum, MOWAA Institute, Rainforest Gallery, 1897 Memorial, and the National Museum. He said this vision was aimed at driving tourism and strengthening Edo State’s creative economy.
Obaseki revealed that he had proposed a joint Trust involving the Benin Palace, the federal government, and the state government to ensure coordinated efforts in developing the district. He noted that the Crown Prince was nominated as the Palace’s representative with the full blessing of the Monarch at the time.
He, however, explained that a misunderstanding arose during a trip to Germany, leading to the Palace withdrawing from the Trust. According to him, the Monarch later opted to pursue an independent Royal Museum project, which the state government also pledged to support.
The former governor insisted that his administration could not divert state funds meant for essential services like education into constructing museums, but instead offered land, regulatory backing, and institutional support for groups capable of attracting private investment.
“MOWAA has raised over €80 million,” he said. “Edo State does not have that kind of money for a museum project. Our duty was to support initiatives that can bring investment into the state.”
Obaseki, who maintained that MOWAA is not his personal project, stressed that the economic potential of such cultural investments should not be overlooked, as they could significantly boost tourism and local revenue.
He described attempts to justify the controversies that arose as “unreasonable,” noting that Edo State stood to gain massively from the cultural district initiative.
The former governor reiterated that his intentions were focused on the state’s development, not on financial gain, and urged stakeholders to prioritise Edo’s long-term cultural and economic growth.
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