Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has asked the Federal Government to temporarily take custody of 1,130 stolen Benin artefacts after they are repatriated from Europe amid controversy surrounding where they will be housed.

Benin Palace and Edo State Government have been at loggerheads over where the artefacts will be housed. While the palace wants the artefacts kept in Benin Royal Museum, which will be built within the palace, but the state government wants the items preserved in the proposed Edo Museum of West African Arts.

Oba Ewuare II, at a world press conference on Friday 9 July 2021 at the palace, said there was no controversy over the issue, as an agreement had been reached that the artefacts would be housed in the royal museum. However, a press release from Government House also on same Friday quoted Governor Godwin Obaseki as saying in Germany that a “transformational” museum would be built in Benin to house the artefacts upon their return, as part of a new cultural district in the city. The artefacts were allegedly looted during invasion of Benin Kingdom in 1897 by the British led by Captain Philip.

OBA OF BENIN'S POSITION
Speaking at his palace on Friday, Oba Ewuare II insisted that the right and only legitimate destination of the about-to-be-repatriated artefacts is Benin Royal Museum. He said, “I have called this meeting today (Friday) to intimate you of the matter of the Benin artefacts in Europe on the verge of being repatriated, which I am sure you have heard and read about in recent weeks. You may also have heard about the recent activities of a group of individuals who incorporated a company since January 2020 called Legacy Restoration Trust Ltd.

“It has become germane to note that the advocacy and demands for return of the artefacts looted from Benin Kingdom in 1897 have been going on for decades before the emergence of the incumbent Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki. I must sincerely thank the governor for joining the struggle and showing commitment to retrieve our stolen cultural heritage from Europe.

“While anticipating return of the looted artefacts from Europe, I want to note that attempts to divert the destination or the right of custody of the artefacts is not in the interest of the people of Benin Kingdom, to whom the Palace of the Oba of Benin provides leadership. The looted artefacts awaiting repatriation from Europe are the cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom created by our ancestors and forefathers within the traditional norms and rites of the kingdom.

“They are not property of the state government or any private corporate entity that is not a creation of the Benin Kingdom. The right and only legitimate destination for the artefacts to be repatriated as already pronounced by my father is under the aegis of the Benin Royal Museum that will be sited within the precincts of the Palace of the Oba of Benin, from where they were looted, and also, the proper traditional institution that is also the custodian of all the cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom.

“The palace, therefore, strongly advises that anyone, group, organisation, or government – national and international – that is dealing with any organisation or artificial group in the process of returning the looted artefacts from the Benin Kingdom would be doing so at their own risk and against the will of the people of the Benin Kingdom.”

Oba Ewuare II said he did not believe that the move by a privately registered company, Legacy Restoration Trust Ltd, and purported establishment of Edo Museum of West African Arts, were in consonance with the wishes of the people of Benin Kingdom, adding that after his ascension to the throne, he had several discussions with Obaseki on the plan for the Benin Royal Museum.

The monarch said the governor expressed his readiness to work with the palace to actualise the wish of his late father, adding that he had acquired additional plots of land from different families within the Adesogbe area near the palace for the purpose of building the Benin Royal Museum. The monarch said he was however surprised to read Obaseki’s letter to the palace wherein a new museum was being proposed, and which would be funded and executed through the vehicle of Legacy Restoration Trust Ltd.

He said, “I informed him (Obaseki) that Oba Ewuare II Foundation had been registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and had worked out a framework for not only receiving the artefacts but also building a modern structure – the Benin Royal Museum – within the precincts of the palace and that land has been secured for the building of the Benin Royal Museum under supervision of the traditional institution.

“But for reasons best known to him, the governor has gone against the understanding, given recent events. As a matter of fact, the people of Benin Kingdom and other stakeholders, especially the Benin Dialogue Group, had at different meetings endorsed the Benin Royal Museum to be built within the palace, as well as endorsing the Oba Ewuare II Foundation for fundraising and other requisite administration processes.

“We wish to use this medium to call on the Federal Government to take custody of these artefacts on behalf of the palace until the Benin Royal Museum is ready for their collection. Under no circumstances should the custody of our age-old artefacts be handed to any privately contrived entity like Legacy Restoration Trust.”

Oba Ewuare II advised Obaseki to review his approach of using the private vehicle of Legacy Restoration Trust Ltd and the Edo Museum of West African Art and see how he could “genuinely collaborate with the Oba’s palace in accordance with our original understanding. We thank the German government for its interest and willingness to return the Benin artefacts,” the monarch said.

“Perhaps, there is a bridge or gap in communication, not on our side but on the side of the state governor, Obaseki, who I insisted we should pray for. We need prayers for a peaceful resolution of these misunderstandings,” Oba Ewuare II added.

BERLIN MEETING ON THURSDAY 08 JULY
Meanwhile on Thursday, German Minister of State for Culture, Prof Monika Grutters, said the way the German government was dealing with the issue of Benin artefacts was important in addressing its colonial past. She gave assurance 1,130 artefacts would be repatriated to Nigeria from beginning of 2022, noting Germany had twice sent delegations to Nigeria for talks over the planned repatriation. She said such move indicated both sides had moved beyond mere talk, saying all museums in Germany stockpiling Benin Bronzes had agreed to cooperate.

The meeting in Berlin was attended by Grutters and German Foreign Minister Mr Heiko Maas, while the Nigerian delegation included Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed, and Obaseki. Benin Royal Palace was represented by the Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, Prince Ezelekhae Ewuare.

LAI MOHAMMED PROPOSES 1-YEAR LIMIT FOR RETURN OF ARTEFACTS
The minister, according to a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Adeyemi, said the agreement for repatriation of the Benin Bronzes from Germany must be signed by December 2021.

“For us, the most important issue in the roadmap is the signing of the agreement and the date of return. We won’t move forward if we don’t have a clear date on signing and return,” Mohammed told participants at the meeting. “Full return should be completed in a year’s time, not beyond August 2022,” he added.

Secretary of State in the German President’s Office, Stephen Steinlein, was quoted as saying the German President was happy with the progress made so far on planned repatriation of the artefacts. Obaseki told the participants that a museum was being built to make Benin City a cultural hub.

The architect handling the museum project, David Adjaye, reportedly made a presentation to the participants, during which he said the project would fuse the technology of ancient Benin Kingdom to that of the 21st century to get an organic pavilion that would boast an auditorium, storage as well as exhibition space, among other facilities.

Other members of the Nigerian delegation included Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Yusuf Tuggar; Director General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Prof Abba Tijani and Director of the Board of Legacy Restoration Trust, Phillip Ihenacho.

SOURCE (abridged): https://punchng.com/dont-allow-obaseki-take-custody-of-1130-stolen-artefacts-oba-of-benin-urges-fg/

Oba of Benin really said this?

Obaseki should respect the wish of the Oba

Fahdiga:
Obaseki should respect the wish of the Oba

Why should be respect the wish of Oba.
Check their reason and see the one that is most acceptable without sentiment

While the palace wants the artefacts kept in the Benin Royal Museum, which will be built within the palace, the state government wants the items preserved in the proposed Edo Museum of West African Arts.

This Obaseki self..

Why is he fighting/having issues with almost everyone..

Those artefacts are worth good money... imagine a GTA style heist on this museum

Ok

Sammy07:


Why should be respect the wish of Oba.
Check their reason and see the one that is most acceptable without sentiment

While the palace wants the artefacts kept in the Benin Royal Museum, which will be built within the palace, the state government wants the items preserved in the proposed Edo Museum of West African Arts.

On the first instance, why should this make news if Obaseki had reason with the Oba to finalize where the artifacts should be kept?

Monogamy:


On the first instance, why should this make news if Obaseki had reason with the Oba to finalize where the artifacts should be kept?

I prefer Obaseki stand on this

While the palace wants the artefacts kept in the Benin Royal Museum, which will be built within the palace, the state government wants the items preserved in the proposed Edo Museum of West African Arts.

If its built within the palace, who will be in charge of collection of revenues?


Change of Plans

The emperor himself would never listen.

He's worse off who he castigated

Obaseki have proof in many times that is a betrayer.

Sammy07:


I prefer Obaseki stand on this



If its built within the palace, who will be in charge of collection of revenues?


Change of Plans

So can't Obaseki explained all that to the Oba in an appealing way? Must everything be done in a gra gra way?

Monogamy:


So can't Obaseki explained all that to the Oba in an appealing way? Must everything be done in a gra gra way?

And why should Oba Be involved in the government in the first place?

Read this

Speaking at his palace on Friday, Oba Ewuare II insisted that the right and only legitimate destination of the about-to-be-repatriated artefacts is Benin Royal Museum. He said, “I have called this meeting today (Friday) to intimate you of the matter of the Benin artefacts in Europe on the verge of being repatriated, which I am sure you have heard and read about in recent weeks. You may also have heard about the recent activities of a group of individuals who incorporated a company since January 2020 called Legacy Restoration Trust Ltd.

He doesn't have the right to tell the government where it should belong or not.

Monogamy:
This Obaseki self..

Why is he fighting/having issues with almost everyone..

HELINUES DID YOU READ THE NEWS VERY WELL

ThatFairGuy1:
The emperor himself would never listen.

He's worse off who he castigated

Still better than your lord and saviour Buhari

Lol, Obaseki and romance with wahala.

Sammy07:


Why should be respect the wish of Oba.
Check their reason and see the one that is most acceptable without sentiment

While the palace wants the artefacts kept in the Benin Royal Museum, which will be built within the palace, the state government wants the items preserved in the proposed Edo Museum of West African Arts.

Correct me if I am wrong, weren't the artifacts looted from the palace in the first place?

vedaxcool:


Correct me if I am wrong, weren't the artifacts looted from the palace in the first place?

You're not wrong.
And that is when the Oba was in control of all Edo state up till some areas of Delta or so.
Mind you then he was still in control of Lands.

Times have changed, everything is in the hands of Government.

Oba won dey chop the revenue. Very corrupt individuals.
If oba can hide COVID-19 palliative in his house, what more can they not do with the artefacts.

I support the governor.

Oba wey no wise

Which of u is in talks with the German govt and FG?Na ur palace or state?Abi u wan go reap where u no sow
U wan turn ur sacred palace to museum.Tomorrow if pipu start to dey see ur sacred palace as normal place,u go dey vex.


What if the artifact u guys are fighting for is an imitation of the original that will still be kept in secret somewhere in Germany.Cos u guys don't have the technology to conduct carbon test to know if its the original or imitation

Sammy07:


And why should Oba Be involved in the government in the first place?

Read this


He doesn't have the right to tell the government where it should belong or not.

I doubt if you are getting the points.. The artifacts the whites have been returning to Nigeria, all region, how are the governors and the Obas been handling them that we never read such news like this?

Monogamy:


I doubt if you are getting the points.. The artifacts the whites have been returning to Nigeria, all region, how are the governors and the Obas been handling them that we never read such news like this?

I understand you that they've not been handling it right.

I'm only saying the Oba Doesn't have the right to tell the government where and where it should be.
He can only compel, persuade and Reason together with them.

Benin monarch are not well

Obaseki should put the Oba in his place and even dethrone him of need be. How dare he challenge the decision of a popular elected state governor? No monarch can be bigger than an elected government. He needs to be shown who is in charge.

AtikuNetwork:
Obaseki should put the Oba in his place and even dethrone him of need be. How dare he challenge the decision of a popular elected state governor? No monarch can be bigger than an elected government. He needs to be shown who is in charge.

Laws of power!

The state government needs to handle the issue with care. The Benin monarchy is an institution that predates any Edo state government. Obaseki (or any governor for that matter) will come and go, but the monarchy will outlive any governor.

Sammy07:


I prefer Obaseki stand on this



If its built within the palace, who will be in charge of collection of revenues?


Change of Plans

lf obaseki leaves in just 3 years who would also be in charge of revenue.

Keep it in mind that successive government hardly follow on with previous government plans especially when it's in private hand

Oba is apprehensive this is a personal museum of obaseki to hold unto Edo culture in the future and charge heavily for it

Why not keep it with the palace that houses all bini culture and where it was stolen from

You can still finalize with the palace that already has a registered trust how it should be remitting

ZorGBUooeh:
Oba wey no wise

Which of u is in talks with the German govt and FG?Na ur palace or state?Abi u wan go reap where u no sow
U wan turn ur sacred palace to museum.Tomorrow if pipu start to dey see ur sacred palace as normal place,u go dey vex.


What if the artifact u guys are fighting for is an imitation of the original that will still be kept in secret somewhere in Germany.Cos u guys don't have the technology to conduct carbon test to know if its the original or imitation

The oba has secured extra lands for this and visits don't need to be coming into the palace itself

Mr three credit and his strong head. Fighting everyone from top to bottom.

Sir, in the Nigeria you all support, Kings are extremely powerless, Infact you are a civil servant!

Sammy07:


I prefer Obaseki stand on this



If its built within the palace, who will be in charge of collection of revenues?


Change of Plans

Ondo man stay clear off

Na mumu thread be this

Both the oba and obaseki i have nothing to tell them, dem dey disgrace us, our oba excesses should be checked by the palace he is always in the news too noisy for an oba, he should stay clear off d media

I have something for obaseki tho

Nigga you aren't working in edo state your sympathetic vote wasnt worth it Bleep you