…Ooni Of Ife, Emir Of Kano, Oshiomhole, Others Grace Occasion

Necessary documents for the return of looted Benin artifacts from the United Kingdom, UK, were on Monday signed by the Benin Royal Palace led by the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II and the UK government representives.

Two of the works, a cockerel (okpa) and Uhunwun Elao were formally handed over to the Oba of Benin as symbol of the return, even as His Royal Majesty announced Prof Wole Soyinka as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Benin Royal Museum.

Speaking, Oba Ewuare II, said Prof Wole Soyinka was made member of the Board of Trustees of the Benin Royal Museum where the returned artefacts would be kept and be opened to the public including researchers and scientists so as to safeguard the artworks and others expected to be returned in future.

He listed Aghatise Erediauwa, Nduka Obaigbena, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru amongst others, to be members of the board of trustees for the museum.

Oba Ewaure II who commended the role played by the Federal Government in the return of the artefacts, said Benin art and culture reflect the past and present glory as well as splendour of the kingdom.

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“As our treasures are returned, our youths will be able to establish a new relationship with the heritage bequeathed by their forefathers.

“The return of all the treasures taken away will begin a new era of Benin history and civilisation.

“International best practice and the rule of law dictate that restitution and compensation is the new discourse.

“We ask that friendly countries seeking to return our artifacts should do so directly to the Oba of Benin or to the Federal Government of Nigeria who will hold them in trust and return the same to the Palace of the Oba of Benin Kingdom as was recently done in Cambridge and Aberdeen,” he stated.

In his speech, Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola, said the ceremony was in line with President Muhammadu Buari’s administration’s commitment that all stolen artefacts should be returned to Nigeria and sent to their original owners.

He said: “In 1897, when the Benin aretefacts were taken away from Benin Kingdom, sovereignty was vested in Benin Kingdom under the leadership of the then Oba of Benin, Ovonranmwen Nogbaisi the same sovereignty was then vested in respective kingdoms and its respective traditional rulers in the present day Nigeria.

“This explains why these artefacts are still being referred to as Benin bronzes up till the present day. Sovereignty is however currently vested in the federal government of Nigeria by the 1999 constitution as amended. Hence the legal and physical possession of the artefacts by the federal Republic of Nigeria under the leadership of Muhammadu Buhari President of Nigeria, my presence in Benin Kingdom today is in fulfillment of the desire and the express directive of President Muhammadu Buhari to return the repossessed artefacts to where they originally belong.

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“The present administration places much emphasis on the return of Nigerian artefacts to their original home hence the painstaking efforts of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, along with the tireless commitment of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments to attain this presidential directive and mandate.”

The event attracted personalities from all walks of life including the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Bayero, representative of the Ooni of Ife, representative of the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire who is from Benin kingdom.

Others were Minister of the Niger Delta, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, former governor of Edo state and immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Ken Imansuagbon, former Deputy Governor of the state, Lucky Imasuen, palace chiefs, traditional rulers from other parts of the state.