EMOWAA SAGA: COALITION OF BENIN SOCIO CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS DISAGREE WITH OBASEKI
BY VIVIAN OLUBUOGU
The COALITION OF the BENIN SOCIO CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS has said that the attention of it’s leaders and stakeholders has been drawn to Governor Obaseki statement where he asserted that he doesn’t have conflict with the revered Monarch over his proposed Emababa EMOWAA.
in the press release signed by, Coordinator General, Mr. Osazee Amas- Edobor and many others in the group, said they were shocked that His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki asserted that he doesn’t have any issue nor quarrel with the revered Oba of Benin Kingdom whereas when he organised a Stakeholders engagement meeting regarding his proposed EMOWAA phase one, he did not involve the revered Palace.
They also went further to say that his excellency does not only have conflict with the Monarch over his Émababa EMOWAA, but also with all the Benins’ for always disrespecting and undermining the Palace, Throne and the Benin Kingdom.
the coalition also said that they have been advocating and assisting the revered Palace throne and Benin Kingdom to ensure that their stolen Artifacts are returned to Palace, therefore they would like to ask His Excellency, who owns the proposed Edo Museum of West African Art(EMOWAA) which is alien to the Benin race.
they also would want to inquire from His Excellency, why he reneged on his earlier promise regarding the Benin Royal Museum in 2018 when he supported the idea of a Benin Royal Museum before the EMOWAA idea came from the blues. they said that they expected His Excellency to be a man of his words because Reneging on his words is tantamount to betrayal of public trust.
They also ask his excellency who owns the proposed EMOWAA project, Edo State Government or owned by his Private Venture called Legacy Restoration Trust Ltd
They added that if the Governor is so much keen in developing the Art and Tourism sector, then it is proper thing for him to liaise with the Oba who would give the nod to these royal guilds of Benin Artisans in order to collaborate with the government in replicating these stolen Artifacts, and even producing other Artifacts for the Edo State Government for his EMOWAA.