Oba of Benin Appoints Soyinka, Obaigbena, Others, Trustees of Proposed Benin Royal Museum

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, has appointed the Chairman, THISDAY Group and ARISE News Channel, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka; and Prof. Peju Layiwola as Trustees of the proposed Royal Museum in Benin.

Other trustee members included Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede; former Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru; Chief Greg Ero, Mr. Daniel Inneh, Chief Charles Edosomwan, SAN, Mr. Sylvester Ebhodaghe, Prince Aghatise Erediauwa, and himself, Oba Ewuare II.

Oba Ewuare II said while he is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the royal museum, Prof. Layiwola would serve as Adviser to the board.

The Benin monarch disclosed this shortly after signing the deed of transfer of two Benin artefacts, a cockerel or Okpa and an ancestral head or Uhunwum from Cambridge and Aberdeen in his palace, with the Nigeria High Commissioner to United Kingdom (UK), Ambassador Tunji Isola who also represented President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday.

The highly elated Oba, disclosed that the palace in conjunction with the federal government, through the National Commission for Museums and Monument (NCMM) was making comprehensive plan for the custody of the artefacts, adding that the plan to develop Benin Royal Museum dates back to 2017.

He said Benin art and culture reflect the past and present glory as well as the splendour of the kingdom, noting that as the 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 Benin history and civilisation,” the Oba said.

The Benin monarch who expressed joy that the return of the artefacts coincided with the fifth anniversary of his coronation of his and ascendancy to the thrown of his forefathers, declared: “Today is an auspicious and historic moment in the history of Benin kingdom. Today marks a watershed in our efforts to retrieve the bronzes, ivories and other works of art which were removed from this palace in 1897.

“Today is not a day to open old wounds. We all know our history very well and the unfortunate events of 1897. Numerous scholars of Benin history and Benin arts have written extensively about the very advanced administrative, technological, and artistic prowess of the Benin people from as far back as we can remember.”

Although he reiterated there was no intention to dwell on the past, Oba Ewuare II however, noted that he and his subjects were looking forward to discuss the subject of restitution and compensation for the act that happened in the past.

“According to him, international best practice and rule of law dictates and testify that compensation is the new discourse.” He urged friendly countries seeking to return Benin artefacts do so directly to him or to the federal government who would hold them in trust and return same to the palace as recently done by Cambridge and Aberdeen.

He further said, “I am here with the support of my ancestors to sign the relevant deed of transfer on behalf of my people. I will like to thank President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, for graciously directing the return of these recently retrieved artefacts to their rightful place.”

The Oba of Benin, who recalled the return of two bronze works, a bird and a traditional bell by the grandson of a member of the 1897 expedition, stressed that the Benin royal family through the federal government had been asking for the return of the artefacts to Benin because many of them transcends mere arts.

“They are in many cases objects of religion significance to us”, he stated.

In his speech, Isola said the ceremony was in line with President Buhari’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 artefacts 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.

“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 Ado Bayero; representative of the Ooni of Ife and representative of the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire who is from Benin Kingdom.

Others were the Minister of the Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio; former governor of Edo state and immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), 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.