The faceoff between the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, and Governor Godwin Obaseki over the return to Benin of the looted artifacts from Europe deepened on Friday, with the first-class monarch raising the alarm over attempts to divert the destination/right of custody of the stolen cultural heritage.
The eminent monarch declared at the well-attended meeting with palace chiefs and Enigies on the repatriation of the looted Benin artifacts that they (artifacts) were not the property of Edo State Government or any private corporate entity that was not the creation of Benin Kingdom.
He condemned the activities of the Obaseki-backed “so-called” Legacy Restoration Trust Limited and the “purported” establishment of Edo Museum of West African Arts (EMOWAA).
The traditional ruler called on the Federal Government to take custody of the artifacts on behalf of the palace of Benin kingdom until the Benin Royal Museum was ready for their collection, declaring that under no circumstance should custody of Benin kingdom’s age-old artifacts be handed to any privately-contrived entity like the Legacy Restoration Trust Limited.
He said in his palace: “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.
“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 artifacts from Europe, I want to note that attempts to divert the destination or the right of custody of the artifacts is not in the interest of the people of Benin Kingdom to whom the Palace of the Oba of Benin provides leadership.
“The looted artifacts 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 the property of Edo State Government or any private corporate entity that is not a creation of the Benin Kingdom.
“The right and only legitimate destination for the artifacts 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 artifacts from the Benin Kingdom would be doing so at their own risk and against the will of the people of the Benin Kingdom.”
The first-class monarch also declared that there was no alternative native authority and custodian of the cultural heritage of the Benin kingdom outside the Oba of Benin, as constituted by the royal palace.
He said: “I do not believe that 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 in consonance with the wishes of the people of Benin Kingdom.”