These politicians should forthwith stop meddling with our cultures about which t hey know zero.The Oba Erediauwa is the the final authority on this matter, The museum must be located where the Oba provides .

Sammy07:


The Oba doesn't have the right to tell the government where the artefacts should be put to

Why? Who owns the artifacts? The state government or the palace?

AtikuNetwork:
Obaseki should put the Oba in his place and even dethrone him of need be. How dare he challenge the decision of a popular elected state governor? No monarch can be bigger than an elected government. He needs to be shown who is in charge.

some of u will just be typing nonsense

This is sad.

Over hyped Oba. The son of a slave trader Who still have slaves in benin kingdom��

AtikuNetwork:
Obaseki should put the Oba in his place and even dethrone him of need be. How dare he challenge the decision of a popular elected state governor? No monarch can be bigger than an elected government. He needs to be shown who is in charge.

u fool the Oba of Benin... Is an ancient throne transferred from one generation to another... And no government/governor can dethroned him ... Edo no be kano

Another Oba of benin slave is here voicing support for the over hyped slave trader call Oba.

Mikecold:
The oba is perfectly right on this one

Obaseki is probably creating his own private museum to earn him revenue when he leaves office

And should indeed he leaves what then becomes of the artifacts left in the hands of private individuals who the next government may not be in terms with

We know how private firms in deals with government later turn out to be the governor private property after leaving office

It is right they go back to the only unmovable place that all binis can relate to

The oba has put in place the palace trust obaseki should use that

To think that's where they where even stolen from in the first place is not rocket science

Regie2bless:
I'm a bini man, but on this issue I dont support the Oba, first Benin kingdom was invaded in 1897 by the British, no where in history suggests that it is only the palace that was robbed other households in Benin kingdom was also affected by the raid, that means is that is not the Oba property or the Oba claiming ownership of the artifacts. Secondly can the Oba provide the needed security for such Artifacts? Knowing full well that one small piece can amount to millions of naira, can such property be safe in his compound? Queen Elizabeth does not have a museum in her compound. With utmost respect the Oba should allow the government do their job. Tnks.

You claim the raids happened to other houses outside palace without proof

I don't want to engage with you on the fact that igun at that time was the only designated area to indulge in bronze production and they were doing it as a service to the palace

It wasn't like anyone could go purchase it and put in their houses, it was a cultural edification to the palace in general and oba in particular

Hence artifacts at that time is a cultural symbolic tool that belongs to the palace

You talked about no security in the palace can you tell us when last the palace was invaded in any way because even the numerous shrines across the city with artifact have not been touched without security

Comparing British system to this is big goof, British see alot of it's artifact from historical perspective while bini see their artifact from traditional perspective

The cases where British see as traditional they keep it in the palace example is the burial place of it's monarch that remains in the palace

Edo no be Lagos

AtikuNetwork:
Obaseki should put the Oba in his place and even dethrone him of need be. How dare he challenge the decision of a popular elected state governor? No monarch can be bigger than an elected government. He needs to be shown who is in charge.

..... Bros u know nothing about the Benin kingdom..... Even the federal government CAN'T dethrone the oba talkless of obaseki... Just leave that area..... Benin kingdom no be like other kingdoms where them dey dethrone kings like say them government workers........

DeFuturePresido:
The crux of the disagreement is this: Who should rightfully take custody of these artefacts? To answer the question, let us take two approaches:

1. Who was the original owner of these artefacts, and who, today, physically embodies that person?

2. Who has the greatest capacity to preserve these artefacts for the greater good of the largest number of people and for posterity? Is it
A. The Benin Royal Palace,
B. A privately managed Museum Trust,
C. The Edo State Government or
D. The Federal Government of Nigeria?

ANSWERS
1. The rightful original "owner" or custodian was Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi, who was deposed during the British "punitive expedition" of 9 - 17 Feb 1897, which was led by Rear-Admiral Harry Rawson, and which led to sacking of the Benin empire.

The person that, today, physically embodies Oba Ovonramwen is (unequivocally) the current ruler of Benin Kingdom, Oba Eheneden Erediauwa Ewuare II.

2. The answer to who can best manage the artefacts, unfortunately, is not straightforward. Technically, it should be the Federal or State government. However, you only need to pay a visit to Federal and State museums, libraries, or monuments across the country to understand that good management and maintenance is not a strong point of government in these parts.

That leaves us with The Royal Palace or The Private Trust.

I incline to suggest a merger of the two options:

A. The museum/cultural district should be built in the location chosen by the Oba of Benin.
B. The museum/cultural district should be managed by the Private Trust.
C. Oba Ewuare II should be made the Chairman of the Trust.
D. The CEO of the Trust should be a thoroughly seasoned professional and should be chosen via a merit-based selection process.
E. Members of the Trust Board should be drawn equally from nominees provided by the Benin Palace, the State Government, the Trust's Directors and the Federal Government.
F. All decisions should be made via simple majority votes.

I believe that this option will resolve the issue and provide the best solution.

I wish there was a double like icon.

You've said it all. We can't trust the government or the palace to manage it individually. It must be done the way you stated above.

I'm aware of several cases of stolen artefacts from the palace by some people I wouldn't like to mention their names or titles. Although many are dead now those artefacts are lost forever cos it was sold to private collectors from foreign countries.

Sammy07:


The Oba doesn't have the right to tell the government where the artefacts should be put to

... U should learn more about the Benin kingdom then... The word of the oba is law in Benin..... The Benin kingdom is still within Edo state where the governor has powers so why not allow the museum to be built within the Palace? Or is the Benin kingdom located in delta state? What is the governor afraid of?

AGNESikpuNNU:
Sanusi treatment loading in edo

..... Trust me bro..... Dethroning the oba will never happen in Edo..... Obaseki won't dare!

Mikecold:
The oba is perfectly right on this one

Obaseki is probably creating his own private museum to earn him revenue when he leaves office

And should indeed he leaves what then becomes of the artifacts left in the hands of private individuals who the next government may not be in terms with

We know how private firms in deals with government later turn out to be the governor private property after leaving office

It is right they go back to the only unmovable place that all binis can relate to

The oba has put in place the palace trust obaseki should use that

To think that's where they where even stolen from in the first place is not rocket science

..... Well said bro.... After all the Palace is located in Edo state where obaseki is governor so I don't understand what else obaseki wants

Funny statement...you certainly know nothing about the Benin Kingdom.. anyway Obasekis are related to the King so dream on. This one is family quarrel.

AGNESikpuNNU:
Sanusi treatment loading in edo

temitope27:
shut up how can he do that, is the state property, British museum is own by government my British monarch

.... Must you argue with abusive words? Why ask him to shut up for airing his opinion? Moreover the Palace is located within the state.... So why not allow the oba build the museum inside the palace to house these artifacts?

Sammy07:


The Oba doesn't have the right to tell the government where the artefacts should be put to

Maybe sir Gabriel igbinedion will tutor you a little about "THRONE OF OBA BENIN " .
Igbinedion with his fame was made to go on his knees to beg the oba .......igbinedion took of Benin to court then on the court sitting the oba wore red attire without shoe or slippers and walk into the court room ,sir igbinedion having seen this took to his heels
OBASEKI SHOULD NOT CROSS THE OBA'S PART AGAIN .......IM VERY SURE HES AWARE
I'm not a Benin guy , but from experience the Benins Revered there oba like a British man or woman will revered the queen .
The oba ga to kpaye you hear them say
Is the same as long live the king ..... I will tell this I have seen a situation where someone was beating publicly for being rude to oba of Benin that was not present .
And again , the palace has not forgotten what Obaseki great great grandfather did to the throne . How he betray Benin Kingdom

EcoBrick:


https://punchng.com/dont-allow-obaseki-take-custody-of-1130-stolen-artefacts-oba-of-benin-urges-fg/

...... Obaseki is beginning to bite more than he can chew.... This is not apc he can malhandle and go free..... The Benin museum if built, will still be located within the state.... And will be better handled by seasoned Benin traditionalists who will even assist tourists better in understanding the cultures and traditions of the Benin kingdom better.... Obaseki should focus on developing the state and leave the artifacts issues to the palace....... Unless he has other motives he hasn't told the world about

GideonVIBES:


Going by the statements here, one would understand why the attempt to meddle with the place of History in our secondary school curriculum was such a BIG problem.

Your comment captured the crust of the matter. The begging question is; who does the artifacts really belong to? Your comment answered that.
They were carried off during the Benin expedition (Feb 1897). The Acting British Consul, Philip, invaded Benin in 1896; without London's permission. He had plans to introduce the British Native Administration System in the Benin Empire. In his letter to the Colonial Office London, he protected that the cost of the war would be covered by the "ivory present in the Oba's palace". He went ahead to launch the mission, without an affirmative response from London.

That first mission ended as a disaster for the British; the Benin forces ambushed the British forces and killed literally all the men (250 soldiers, and few British senior officers). Only 2 British officers survived; this is known as the Benin Massacre.

In response, London launched a full scale operation against the Benin Empire; this informed why the 1897 expedition was largely punitive, and involved a level of operational highhandedness not he generally consistent with British colonial expeditionary strategy; Benin city was set ablaze; thousands of ivories carried off from the palace, shrines, etc; Chiefs were hung; most icnonically, the palace was burnt to the ground. The Oba was exiled to Calabar, and a British administrator was appointed.

Most of the artifacts are still scattered across European cities; they were auctioned to cover the expedition's cost.

Conclusively, unlike the British expedition in the Forbidden City (Palace) of China, where the monarchy is nonexistent today; the institution of the Benin Obaship subsists.
If the genuine intention of today's Britain is real reparations, then, those artifacts are to be returned to the Palace from whence they were carried off 124 years ago.

The question that begs answers is; do we (FG, Edo SG, Benin Kingdom) have the needed environment to keep these artifacts?

Would these artifacts be covered in dust, 10 years from now; when all the pomp and pageantry are gone.

I don't know the ancestral relevance of these artifacts, nor what they mean to the Benin people; all I know is that if the ancestors were allowed to vote, the ancestors would rather remain in shiny glass cases; under cool conditioned air; with 24-hour lights beaming down on them; than to be abandoned in some dusty hall with leaky roofs somewhere south of the Sahara.

You beg to differ? When was the last time you visited a Nigerian museum (except for research purposes - for historians)?

Be realistic Germany has its culture, African has its

The artifacts are of service to the bini kingdom even when they were in the dusty shithole of subshara Africa it doesn't change the fact they were made for their purpose to be of service to the bini culture

They should be returned to fulfil the purpose of their creation

The palace has a trust it has refurbished to keep them safe

Are you even aware of the conditions in the palace today, it can compete with satandard

generalwo:
... U should learn more about the Benin kingdom then... The word of the oba is law in Benin..... The Benin kingdom is still within Edo state where the governor has powers so why not allow the museum to be built within the Palace? Or is the Benin kingdom located in delta state? What is the governor afraid of?

You hear them saying governor should put oba in his place because he is elected by the people

Before this oba came on board their used to be serious land issue crisis where one man buys land and the community who sold it would come and displace him or keep extorting him with various youths aka omo Nile

Government couldn't solve it, it was rocket science to them despite all the power and enforcement agencies but it was this oba with one statement that put an end to it (yet he is supposedly powerless)

Even Lagos government can't effectively check omo Nile let as oba of Benin did

Mikecold:
you are just displaying gross ignorance

In the binin tradition the place is distinct from the government the exact reason why governor can't select a new oba nor sack him

The government can only co-ordinate tradition on the advice of the palace

Artifacts stolen from the palace are more or less cultural attributes of the palace which holds trust of the culture of the bini people

You are Yoruba where your kings are picked and sustained through government dice so i don't expect you to get it


Government can only be doing private museum with it if the palace doesn't consider them to be too much of importance to them

Who gives staff of office to the Oba? Is it not the State govt? if yes, then the govt can dethrone the Oba.

badoh:

Who gives staff of office to the Oba? Is it not the State govt? if yes, then the govt can dethrone the Oba.

Staff of office is just like a symbol from the Edo government that we support you from government perspective (not like they have a choice)

Oshomole was the first to do so in Edo because it came to effect in his era been privileged to be the first to give it in the long line of obas that never needed it

Below is Oshomole standing to give oba staff of office while oba is sitting to receive it

Below is Oshomole knelling to thank the oba for collecting the staff of office

AroleOduduwa2:
The Oba want the money generated from the museum, He knows a lot of people will troop in to see the artifacts. It’s all about money and not preservation of heritage

Isn't that the same thing Obaseki is looking for?

thundafire:
but government can dethrone the Oba nothing go happen. It was then Oba was powerful and not now. The law recognizes Governor as the the head of government not oba,the Oba can't appoint commissioners or call security heads for meetings

Dethrone fire.Obaseki is from Royal family so he knows whatsup.He can't go there.

angelfallz:
Why must this be dragged out in public?

Is there a Royal museum that has been setup on ground ready to house the artefacts?

If yes, then what is obaseki's problem?

We're calling for true federalism and restructuring but the Oba of Benin is running to the FG to intervene in Benin culture, WTH!

Is it that the Oba of Benin and the Edo govt can't come up with a solution on where to house their great and incredible Cultural artefacts for the benefit of the Benin children old and young, for the benefit of Nigerians and the world at large?

This is how they would start, then the Germans would now turn around and give one excuse and say they're not returning it again.

Honestly this country

Those of you who saying that the Sanusi treatment would soon happen to the Oba of Benin don't know or understand Benin culture. Obaseki, Buhari or any government for that matter can't dethrone the Oba of Benin.
It is not an appointed position.

Oga forget that. If the Oba is dethroned, will you volunteer yourself to go out and protest? As sensitive as Kano is, was the Emir not dethroned? Even during Abacha era, did he not dethrone an Emir? If the Oba is dethrone today, bros nothing go happen.

AGNESikpuNNU:
Sanusi treatment loading in edo

Edo no be kaduna ooo

Do i care, as i benin man i dont even support the return of the artifacts this is one of the problem i foresaw

I won't be surprised to see the Oba denying such allegation in another news, later today.

Baba go sell them again

AtikuNetwork:
Obaseki should put the Oba in his place and even dethrone him of need be. How dare he challenge the decision of a popular elected state governor? No monarch can be bigger than an elected government. He needs to be shown who is in charge.

The Oba of Benin has more respect than the Governor. Don't compare him to the Emir of Kano who was dethroned. The Governor will finish his tenure and leave office but the Oba stays till death. It is not a political appointment and cannot be influenced by the state Governor.

It's so sad that the British government has destroyed the respect for our traditional institutions but they uphold theirs.