Oba Of Benin Warns Gov Obaseki Against Diversion Of Artefacts Looted 124Yrs Ago

Ahead of the planned return of artefacts stolen from the Benin Kingdom by British colonial masters 124 years ago (1897), the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, has warned against diversion of the artefacts by the Edo State Government.

Speaking during a live press conference monitored by THE WHISTLER on Friday, the Oba said the artefacts ought to be returned to the palace and not elsewhere because they were stolen from the palace.

The Oba addressed the press conference from his palace in Benin City, Edo State.

He said, “… attempts to divert the destination of the right of custody of the artefacts is not in the interest of the Benin Kingdom to whom the palace of the Oba of Benin provides leadership,” adding that the artefacts, “are not property of the state government or any private corporation or entity that is not a creation of the Benin Kingdom.”

The Oba of Benin noted that Governor Godwin Obaseki and some individuals had allegedly gone ahead to register a company (Legacy Restoration Trust Limited) with a view to diverting the artefacts to a private museum.

He stressed that the Benin Royal Museum was the rightful custodian of all cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom.

A chief of the palace, Sam Igbe, read the content of a statement on behalf of the monarch.

It reads, “You may have heard about the recent activities of a group of individuals who incorporated a company since January 2020 called Legacy Restoration Trust Limited. It has become Germain to note that the advocacy and demands for the return of the artefacts looted from the 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 the return of the looted artefacts from Europe, I want to note that attempts to divert the destination of the right of custody of the artefacts is not in the interest of the 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 with the traditional norms and rights of the Kingdom. They are not the property of the state government or any private corporation or entity that is not a creation of the Benin Kingdom.

“The right and only legitimate destination of the artefacts to be repatriated as already pronounced by my father is under the aegis of the Benin Royal Museum that would be sited within the precincts of the palace of the Oba of Benin from where they were stolen 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 or organisation or the government, national and international, that is dealing with any organisation or artificial group in the process of returning the looted artefacts of Benin, would be doing so at their own risk against the will of the people of the Benin Kingdom.

The 67-year-old monarch stressed that, “There is no alternative, native or authority or custodian or the cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom outside the Oba of Benin as constituted by the royal palace. We do not believe that the motive by a privately registered company – Legacy Restoration Trust Limited – and the purported establishment of the Edo Museum of West African Arts are in consonance with the wishes of the people of the Benin Kingdom.”

Ewuare II recalled that shortly after he was crowned as the Oba of Benin, he held several discussions with Governor Obaseki informing him of his plans about the Benin Royal Museum and that the governor expressed his readiness to work with the palace to actualize his late father’s wish.

He said that he was shocked when Governor Obaseki would subsequently inform him about a different plan, “using the so-called Legacy Restoration Trust and the Edo Museum of West African Arts”.

The Oba of Benin said he had told Governor Obaseki that the setting up of another museum to house the artefacts would not be necessary nor acceptable, as the palace had already registered a name at the Corporate Affairs Commission under which the museum would be built and the artefacts managed.

The monarch said he also informed the governor that the palace had also acquired a land on which the museum would be built.

The Oba of Benin, however, said that “for reasons best known to him, the governor has gone against the understanding given recent events.”

The monarch recalled how Adre Walker, the son of Captain Philip Walker, one of the soldiers who invaded the palace in 1897, had returned two precious artefacts to his later father, Oba Erediauwa, in 2013.

He said it was only proper for other artefacts looted form the palace to be returned to them.

There were earlier reports that a row was brewing between Governor Obaseki and the Oba of Benin over who should be in possession of artefacts when they are returned.

Governor Obaseki reportedly wants the artifacts to be kept in private trust, but Oba Ewuare II was said to have kicked against the move and demanded that the artefacts be returned to the palace or be kept in a museum built within the palace and managed by the federal and state governments.

It was learnt that the disagreement had raised concerns among the people of the state as it is reminiscent of events that took place 124 years ago.

Governor Obaseki’s great grandfather, as reported by This Day, allegedly played a role in the invasion of the place in 1897, leading to the looting of the artefacts by the colonial masters.

The expected artefacts are said to currently be in possession of the British, German and French governments.