The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has raised concerns over an alleged attempt by an international cartel to re-loot 119 looted Benin artefacts recently returned from the Netherlands.
Speaking at his palace in Benin City during the official handover of the artefacts, the monarch revealed that the conspiracy was thwarted after fervent prayers to God and the ancestors of the Benin Kingdom.
“I thank President Bola Tinubu for supporting and committing to the efforts former President Buhari put in place to ensure the artefacts are not re-looted,” the Oba said.
“There were groups in this country, believed to be an international cartel, that had all sorts of conspiracies to re-loot our artefacts.”
The Oba recounted the atrocities committed during the 1897 British invasion of the Benin Kingdom, describing the destruction and loss as a deep wound that continues to affect the spirit of the people.
“They stole and burnt our Kingdom. They killed my people, their morale, and tried to kill their spirit. Today, I lament the fact that the people of Benin Kingdom, their boldness, courage, and bravery, are still there. But the events of 1897 reduced that to a significant level,” he stated. “Sometimes when I see my people, they are afraid of the unknown.”
However, the Oba noted that the return of the artefacts has reignited the cultural pride and courage of the Benin people.
“The return of these objects has reawakened the courage we had in our people. We do not want modern-day politics, we do not want partisan politics to diminish the courage of our people,” he said.
Oba Ewuare II also commended the Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Olugbile Holloway, for his dedication to the repatriation efforts. However, he accused a former head of the commission of being complicit in the alleged re-looting scheme.
“The Director-General of the NCMM has been doing commendable work. His predecessor was part of the conspiracy to re-loot our artefacts. We had a confrontation in this hall,” the monarch recalled.
“I addressed my Chiefs in the Benin language, and I said these artefacts belong to my ancestors, and I will not sit on the ancient throne and watch them re-looted. They had better remain where they are than be re-looted.”
Read also: Updated: Court grants Natasha N50m bail, rejects FG’s remand request
The Oba further thanked the Dutch government for their role in returning the cultural treasures.
“I thank the government of the Netherlands for working with us. This is part of the efforts to restore the morale of my people,” he said.
The monarch lamented previous attempts to diminish the influence and unity of the Benin Kingdom by past state administrations and reaffirmed his resolve to resist any such efforts during his reign.
“After 1897, the Kingdom was diminished. There was a government in this state that sought to reduce the Kingdom further and scatter it.
“I am angry when I speak about it. Why would anybody, as we have strived to preserve, want to scatter it?” he queried.
“The youths were courageous and reminiscent of the youths of those days. They were not afraid of anybody. I vowed that it will not happen. Not in my reign.
“Not while I am sitting on this throne. God heard my prayers, my ancestors heard my prayers. This throne is not partisan, but I should support what is good for my people,” the Oba declared.
He concluded his remarks with a traditional prayer, using his official sceptre to invoke ancestral guidance for the return of more artefacts.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the NCMM, Olugbile Holloway, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to working closely with the Benin Royal Palace to ensure the continued return of artefacts from overseas.
On behalf of the Edo State Government, Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Osarodion Ogie, who represented Governor Monday Okpebholo, emphasized the government’s readiness to build infrastructure that will properly preserve the returned items.
“They are treasured monuments and sacred objects. You can see the way they came. They are fragile and precious. We will continue to collaborate to see that a safe space is created,” he said.
“We are supporting the palace to see that a befitting museum is put in place to display these objects for tourists as a way of boosting the tourism sector.”
Also speaking at the ceremony, the General Director of Wereldmuseum in the Netherlands, Marieke van Bommel, confirmed that the returned artefacts had been in Dutch possession for over a century.
“The artefacts were looted, and we have a policy in the Netherlands to bring them back. We are bringing back 119 artefacts. We don’t have more,” van Bommel stated.
“These are the collections in the Netherlands. There are more collections in Europe, but that is not up to us.”
The repatriation of the artefacts marks a significant milestone in the global effort to return stolen cultural heritage to their countries of origin, and for the Benin Kingdom, it signals a spiritual and cultural restoration long awaited by its people.
