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Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Youths in their numbers in Benin City, Edo State, under the aegis of Coalition of Benin Socio Cultural Organisation, yesterday, protested the planned establishment of Edo Museum of West African Arts (EMOWAA) by Governor Godwin Obaseki, as home for stolen Benin artifacts being returned from Europe.
They called on Benin sons and daughters and the palace of the Oba of Benin to commence the construction of the Benin Royal Museum which the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II had proposed to house the artifacts looted by Britain in 1897.

The group, led by its Coordinator General Osaze Amos-Edobor, started the protest march from the ancient Benin Arousa Church along Akpakpava Road to the palace of the Oba of Benin and then to the proposed site for the Royal Museum, which is situated opposite the palace of the Oba.

The protesting youths, who defied the early morning rain, bore placards of various inscriptions, saying Obaseki’s EMOWAA is alien to them.
Secretary of the group, Osaro Culture Iyamu said: “Today, we are here to inform our great Oba, the Oba of Benin Kingdom to appeal to him not to be deterred and disturbed. We are here to appeal to him to commence work on the proposed Benin Royal Museum.

“We are appealing that work should commence next week. We have great sons and daughters who have the wherewithal and we are also using this medium to advise them and appeal to them to join the palace to commence the construction of the Benin Royal Museum. It is only the Benin Royal Museum that we the Edo people know.”
According to Iyamu, “We are at the permanent site for the museum to show to the world that Omo N’Oba already has a place for the construction of the Benin Royal Museum which is just opposite the palace.
“We don’t know of any other museum for our artifacts apart from this. We want to also thank President Muhammadu Buhari for giving his nod to ensure that our artifacts are given the rightful recognition and the necessary support.
“We, therefore, call on all Benin people to support this project as we expect more to be returned because we are aware some have been returned and taken back to where they were stolen from. We are expecting more than 1,000 more from the German government.”
Last week, at a World Press Conference, the leaders and stakeholders of the Coalition had opposed moves by Obaseki to house the returned stolen Benin artifacts in his proposed EMOWAA which they say is alien to the Benin race.
The leaders accused Obaseki of disrespecting and undermining the Oba of Benin, regarding the museum for the artifacts and insisted that he keeps to his promise to support the idea of a Benin Royal Museum for the artifacts.
The Coalition thus raised a number of posers for Obaseki: “We would like to ask His Excellency, who owns the proposed EMOWAA, which is alien to the Benin race
“Is the proposed EMOWAA project owned by the Edo State Government or owned by your Private Venture called Legacy Restoration Trust Ltd?
“If EMOWAA belongs to your Private Venture known as Legacy Restoration Trust Ltd with its Office in Lagos, then why are you as our governor treating it as a Government project using state resources?”