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Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has implored the Federal Government to take custody of the proposed return artifacts momentarily pending the completion of the building where they would be kept.
The monarch made the call while meeting with his palace chiefs and enigies on the repatriation of the looted Benin Artifacts in his Palace in Benin City.
“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.
“Thankfully just yesterday, I spoke with the Hon minister for information and culture who is presently in Germany over the negotiation with the German Government over the plans for the repatriation of our artifacts he assured me that the federal government remain committed to get unconditional return of our artifacts and will guarantee its full custody for their onward transmission to Benin Kingdom to the exclusion of any unauthorized private entities or third parties, we once again thank the federal government for this commitment.
“It now behoves the federal government to be the only level of government that can take custody of the artifacts with a view to transferring them to their original owner and their original place of abode, moreso that there exist international treaties and laws guiding these processes”, he said.
Ewuare II, whose speech was read by his Palace chief, Sam Igbe, the Iyase of Benin Kingdom, while commending the state governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki for his efforts in ensuring that the artifacts find their way back to Benin Kingdom, expressed worries over attempt by the same governor to propose where they should be kept.
“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 fathers within the traditional norms and rites of the Kingdom.
“They are not a 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 the custodian of all the cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom”, the Oba said.
The monarch advised the governor to review his approach of using the private vehicle of the Legacy Restoration Trust ltd and the Edo Museum of West African Art and to see how he can genuinely collaborate with the palace in accordance with our original understanding.
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