THIS IS THE REASON OBASEKI HAS BEEN TRAVELING AROUND FOR OVER A YEAR
How ex-governor Obaseki spent one year abroad to court foreigners to embarrass Benin tradition over artifacts
By John Mayaki
For nearly one year after leaving office, former Edo state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki embarked on an extensive international tour across Europe, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, in an effort to mobilize a segment of the international community around his controversial plan for the Edo Museum of West African Art (EMOWAA).
The event which held today with foreigners at the museum was stopped since the project stirred deep resentment among the people of Benin and the palace of the Oba of Benin.
Behind the scenes, the former governor’s diplomatic shuttle, which stretched across several months, appeared less about cultural cooperation and more of legitimacy and attempts to embarrass the state government and the tradition of the Benin people.
Obaseki sought to win over global institutions, foreign governments, and art curators to his side in a simmering dispute with the Oba of Benin, who is the revered custodian of the Benin heritage, over the ownership and custodianship of the returned artifacts looted during the Briti
sh Invasion of 1897.
I must confess that many residents were unaware of the extent of Obaseki’s engagements abroad until the aftermath unfolded today in Benin city when these group of sponsored foreign delegates arrived to participate in a cultural dialogue around the artifacts, tension rose immediately.
The event took place within the vicinity of the proposed EMOWAA site, took place without consultation with either the Oba of Benin or the sitting governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, who serves as the chief security officer of the state.
However, local outrage followed. Security agencies has to intervene to prevent escalation into a serious cultural confrontation, the trap which the former governor allegedly orchestrated to embarrass the government and the country.
This direct challenge to the traditional authority by attempting to outsource the custodianship and narration of the rich history of Benin to foreigners is condemnable, inappropriate, insulting and wholly unacceptable.
It is on record that the people fought to retrieve their stolen artifacts from the hands of colonial powers. Now, the people still find themselves fighting again to keep their heritage from being gifted away by the ex-governor.
The governance of the museum structure is shrouded in secrecy and opaque. The Benin Royal place was also sidelined for foreigners. This is abominable. In addition, this is double-jeopardy in view of Obaseki’s obvious subversion cooked abroad and delivered at home.
