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Looted Benin Artifacts: Review Your Approach Of Private Custodian, Oba Of Benin Advises Obaseki

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3 years ago

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Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuara II, has advised governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki to review his approach of using a private organistion to be the custodian of the Benin looted artifacts proposed to be repatriated soon.

Obaseki had reportedly floated a private company known as Legacy Restoration Trust Ltd allegedly incorporated January this year by the Governor purposely to receive and be custodian of the stolen artifacts.

The Oba in an enlarged meeting held with palace chiefs, Enogies, Okagheles (youths leaders) and the royal family in Benin on Friday noted that any attempt to divert destination or right of custody of the artifacts is not in the instrest of the people of Benin kingdom.

READ ALSO: Emir Of Kano Visits Oba Of Benin, Says ‘I’m Here For Unity, Peaceful Coexistence’

The Oba after speaking in Benin and asking his chiefs and other who were attendance who is the rightful owner of Benin cultural heritage and who should be in custody of the artifacts rised in present of everyone (very rare according to culture and tradition) and sang victory song and danced as other chiefs and everyone seated joined His Royal Majesty

The Oba’s speech which was read by Iyase of Benin kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe, said the looted artifacts awaiting repatriation are the cultural heritage of Benin kingdom and 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 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 precinct of the Palace of the Oba of Benin from where they were looted, and also, the proper traditional institution that is also custodian of all the culture heritage of the Benin Kingdom,” he said.

The Oba said he does not believe the move by Obaseki to retrieve the looted artifacts through a privately registered company and purported establishment of Edo Museum of West Africa Arts (EMOWAA) are in consonance with the wishes of the people of Benin kingdom.

READ ALSO: Oba Of Benin Urges Imposters Fronting Stolen Artifacts To Desist

The Benin Monarch who said he had discussion with Mr. Governor after his ascension to throne on the plan of the Benin Royal Museum and that Obaseki expressed readiness to work with the palace to actualise the repatriation, wondered why Obaseki is proposing a private company to be the custodian of the looted artifacts.

A cross section of Benin Chiefs at the meeting

“It is pertinent to note that shortly after my acsension to the throne I had several discussions with the Governor on the plan for the Benin Royal Museum and he expressed his readiness to work with the Palace to actualise this laudable wish of my father.

“I was however surprised to read from the Governor’s letter to the palace where reference was being made to the fact that a new Museum to be known as EMOWA is now being proposed, which will be funded and executed through the vehicle of another body now refered to as Lagacy Restoration Trust,” he said.

The Oba said the people of Benin kingdom and other stakeholders all endorsed the Benin Royal Museum to be built within the palace , as well as endorsing the Oba Ewuare II Foundation for fund raising.

He, therefore, urged the Federal Government to take custody of the artifacts on behalf of the palace until the Benin Royal Museum is ready for their collection.

READ ALSO: Oba Of Benin Urges Imposters Fronting Stolen Artifacts To Desist

“Under no circumstances should custody of our age old artifacts be handed to any private contrived entity like the Benin Lagacy Restoration Trust,” the Oba warned.

 

 

 

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Man, 38 Escapes Assassination Attempt In Benin

Published

9 months ago

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July 22, 2023

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Innocent Omoruyi

By Omokha Andrew

A 38-year-old activist, Innocent Omoruyi, narrowly escaped assassination in the early hours of Wednesday, July 19, 2023 as his residence at Obe Community,Sapele Road in Benin city was attacked by yet to be identified gun men.

The attack which eye witnesses say was viciously executed on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 bore the markings of a dreaded cult group terrorizing Benin City, the state capital.

The Obe, Sapale Road incident, it was learnt, happened soon after Omoruyi left the house to attend to matters of interest some few metres away from his home.

The assailants were said to have shot sporadically in their frustration as residents scampered for safety.

However, Omoruyi escaped unharmed.

One of the eye witnesses who craved anonymity said: “The felons apparently went for the kill, weilding guns and other dangerous weapons. “We are shocked that they didn’t see Innocent Omoruyi who was just some few metres away from home when they arrived”.

“How that happened, only God knows and it was obvious that it wasn’t his time to die yet and just before that not long ago his business place on Lagos Street, Benin City was burnt down in the middle of the night by unknown arsonists.

“This sequence of events is not ordinary. We know it’s politically motivated due to the role he played in the last general elections. He has been advised to go into hiding at the moment for his personal safety”, he concluded.

When contacted, the police Public Relations Officer Chidi Nwabuzor said he was yet to get any information as regards the latest incident. He promised to feed our correspondent with relevant details as soon as they become handy.

Our information source however revealed that the matter has already been incidented at the Love World Police station on Sapele Road, Benin city.

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Nigeria To Earn Over $4bn Revenue As FEC Okays Concession Of Abuja, Kano Airports

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11 months ago

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May 18, 2023

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Nigeria will earn over $4 billion in nominal revenue as the Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday okayed the concession of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, to the Corporacion American Airport Consortium, a Luxembourg-based company.

James Odaudu, the Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the Minister of Aviation, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

According to him, the Council also approved that the Federal Ministry of Aviation would be renamed the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace.

READ ALSO: ATMs To Be Upgraded For Loans Services As CBN Gives Banks Ultimatum…

The statement noted that the company would make combined upfront payments of $8.5 million for the concession of NAIA and MAKIA.

He added that the development would spur evidential growth within the Nigerian aviation industry.

“In alignment with the Aviation Roadmap, approved by Mr President on 18th October 2016, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace is delighted to inform all stakeholders, both local and international, and the media, that the concession of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano has been approved by the Federal Executive Council,” the statement said.

READ ALSO: Peter Obi, LP Must Pay N1.5million To Access Documents – INEC

In December 2022 and January 2023, Corporacion American Airport Consortium was announced as the preferred bidder for the airport’s concession after scaling through a series of evaluations of technical and financial bids.

Nominal revenues mean income not adjusted for inflation and decreasing purchasing power.

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Russia Expelled From Council Of Europe Amid War With Ukraine

Published

2 years ago

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March 16, 2022

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The Council of Europe says it has expelled Russia with immediate effect after 26 years of membership because of the Ukraine war.

The Committee of Ministers took the decision in a special session, the rights body announced in the French city of Strasbourg on Wednesday.

Earlier, Russia had already declared its withdrawal from the Council of Europe after it had taken steps to exclude it.

On Tuesday evening, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe voted unanimously in favour of Russia’s exclusion.

Russia joined the Council of Europe on Feb. 28, 1996.

Together with the formal notification of the withdrawal, the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe also received information from the Russian Federation on Tuesday about its intention to denounce the European Convention on Human Rights.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, the leaders of the Council of Europe once again condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

READ ALSO: Ukraine: Horror As Russian Forces Shoot People Queuing For Bread

They expressed their solidarity with the Russian people, who continue to belong to the European family and share its values.

The body said it would continue to stand by Ukraine in the fight against the aggressor.

The Council of Europe monitors the observance of human rights in its 46 member states and is not part of the European Union.

The body reacted to the Russian invasion of Ukraine two weeks ago by suspending Russia’s membership, this decision was considered historic.

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