By Eseosa Ewere
_"...foreign govts involved in the Benin facility_"
The controversy surrounding the Museum of West African Art MOWAA, a culture and relics preservation facility, attracted to Benin City by the Obaseki-led administration, has gained a positive traction—this is going by recent contribution of an internationally-acclaimed Benin-based culture and relics collector, High Priest Osemwengie Ebohon.
High Priest Ebohon is of African Traditional Religion, a native doctor, Benin historian, and a well-known cultural icon of Benin extraction—he is the founder of the Ebohon Cultural Centre for Art, Traditional Religion, and Witchcraft, he is also a veteran journalist, author, and poet, recognized for his traditional knowledge and accurate predictions.
In an interview held recently https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1M8Evb6iou/, the collector hailed the MOWAA initiative, he spoke glowingly of the edifice, noting that it will remain in the memory of the Benins for centuries to come.
Pa Ebohon's objective assessment of the facility singposts the opinions the global community shares of MOWAA—many have said the facility, despite not commissioned yet, already puts Benin City, the Edo State capital on the spotlight for global competitiveness—High Priest Ebohon further appraised the Museum as a lifetime PR for the Benin nation, that successive administrations must not gamble or play politics with.
In a shocking twist however, Benin City witnessed an anti-MOWAA protest on Wednesday by some traditionalists of Benin extraction, who were seen calling for the suspension of the planned opening of the facility—the protest, for whatever political undercurrent around it, has been condemned by cultural experts and the vast majority of Edo people, noting that the move is scripted, insane and misdirected, as MOWAA ought to be a facility for all, and not an instrument for political chess game.
Observes advised the protesters to exercise reasoning over unchecked and misdirected political sentiments and not allow themselves be used as pawns to settle wasteful political squabbles.
Pa Ebohon has been commended across various quarters for his objective and progressive assessment of the facility—analysts who followed his interview scored him high for his excellent understanding of the role of MOWAA in the cultural development of Benin City and by extension, Edo State, calling on the local Benin protesters to align with the world-acclaimed native doctor.
Meanwhile, a recent naming by New York Times credited Benin City as one of its "52 Places to Go in 2025," NYT noted that while MOWAA has not been cited as a World wonder site, Benin City got so named by virtue of housing the MOWAA facility—this particular development gladens the hearts of many Benins anytime MOWAA is discussed.
Why would a group of persons who pride themselves as agents of development march against the commissioning of the facility—the Okpebholo-led government must shot every bad political eye on MOWAA, the government must grow beyond petty, primitive politics and embrace global monuments like MOWAA capable of giving Edo State a new definition.
And as November 11, the planned date for the commissioning of the all-important monument draws near, we urge Edo people, who are primary beneficiaries of MOWAA to come out en masse and give the facility a graceful welcome; MOWAA has come to stay, the forces and gates of hell shall not prevail against it—Edo people are proud of the global concept and will give it all necessary support in its service to the global community.
We commend Pa Ebohon, the political class, the intelligentsia community, religious bodies, traditional players, Benin socio-cultural groups, the youths, students, market women, the generality of Edo people and of course, the global community for throwing their weight behind MOWAA, particularly as the facility prepares for its grand opening on Benin soil.
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