Edo won’t fight Oba of Benin over returned artefacts, says Obaseki The Punch
Published 12 July 2021
The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has said his administration won’t engage in “disrespectful exchanges” with the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, over stolen artefacts.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Secretary to the Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie.
This was in reaction to a statement issued by the Oba of Benin asking the Federal Government to temporarily take custody of 1,130 stolen Benin artefacts that are about to be repatriated from Europe.
This is as the monarch stated that the rightful destination of the artefacts should be the Benin Royal Museum.
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The Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Ewuare II, has said repatriated Benin Bronzes should be returned to the Benin Royal Museum to be cited within the precincts of his palace.
At a press briefing in his palace on Friday, the Oba called on the Federal Government to take custody of the artefacts when repatriated until the royal museum is ready.
The Obaâs intervention and comments follow the controversy over where the artefacts, looted by British soldiers during the invasion of the Benin Kingdom, ought to be kept when returned.