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Oba of Benin against Edo govt possession of looted artefact
By Modupe Shodeinde
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.
This comes amidst disagreement between the Benin Palace and the Edo State Government over where the artefacts will be housed. 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.
Speaking at his palace on Friday, Oba Ewuare II insisted that the right and only legitimate destination of the about-to-be-repatriated artefacts was the Benin Royal Museum.
He said, “I called this meeting to intimate you of the matter of the Benin artifacts in Europe, at the verge of being repatriated. 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 germane to note that the advocacy and demands for the return of the artifacts 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.
“While anticipating the 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.”
According to him, the move by a privately-registered company, the Legacy Restoration Trust Limited and the purported establishment of Edo Museum of West African Arts (EMOWAA) are not in consonance with the wishes of the people of Benin Kingdom.
Oba Ewuare II said after his ascension to the throne, he had discussed with Governor Obaseki on the plan for the Benin Royal Museum, which the governor had expressed his readiness to work with.
He stated that he had taken steps to acquire land near the palace for the purpose, however, he expressed his surprise over the Governor’s letter to the Palace, where reference was made to a proposed new museum to be known as EMOWAA.
This museum is to be funded and executed through the vehicle of another body now referred to as Legacy Restoration Trust Limited.
“When Governor Godwin Obaseki informed me, in his correspondence, of another implementation framework, using the so-called Legacy Restoration Trust Limited and the Edo Museum of West Africa Arts (EMOWAA), my response was that the setting up of another organisation or legal entity in whatever form or guise will not be necessary or acceptable.
“I informed him that Oba Ewuare II Foundation has been registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and has worked out a framework for not only receiving the artifacts, 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 the supervision of the traditional institution.
“For reasons best known to him, the Governor (Obaseki) has gone against the understanding, given recent events.
“We wish to use this medium to call on the Federal Government to take custody of these artifacts on behalf of the Palace until the Benin Royal Museum is ready for their collection.
“Under no circumstances should custody of our age old artifacts be handed to any privately contrived entity like the Legacy Restoration Trust.” Oba Ewuare II said.
