The misunderstanding most of you are having is that, you think this is just happening now. My dear this has been going on for quite some time. Go do your research. The Governor paid all the enogies and told them to secede from the authority of the Benin Traditional council. Then he proposed a law to create a traditional council in every local government in only edo south so as to diminish the powers of the Oba of benin who has always been the only Traditional ruler of edo south and with only one Traditional Council call the benin Traditional Council or BTC... he did all this because the law made by president buhari that all artefacts should be given to the Traditional rulers of the places they were looted from. Now Tell me. When you Grant this rogue enogies autonomy like they had earlier been agitating for before most of them came back begging the oba for forgiveness. Try it and see if they and the Governor won't come after the artefacts saying other traditional councils wants their own share of the artefacts. If the root cause is not about artefacts, then why is the Governor insisting on building a museum instead of the royal museum he ones agreed to and also budgeted 2 billion naira for. My dear am not telling anyone to believe me, simply take your phone and search for everything I said on Google or YouTube and you will see video evidence from media houses and documents and government plans concerning all of this ok [color=#000099][/color]

WrriterNg:
⚡Russia earlier yesterday Vetoed a U.N. Security Council Resolution which would have seeked to prevent a Nuclear Arms Race in Outer Space, with the Resolution calling for all Countries to not Develop and/or Deploy Nuclear Warheads or other Weapons of Mass Destruction to Space as stated under the 1967 “Outer Space Treaty” which was Signed by the United States and Russia.

You are a big liar and a deceiver like your western masters.. please the general public is advise to go see the full video clip of what the Russian delegation said and also what the Chinese said. All weapons should be banned in space not only nuclear weapons. This is it

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with the Oba of Benin, His Highness Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Ewuare II, on his 70th birthday.


Buhari in a statement issued on Saturday by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, described the Oba as “a king among kings”.

The former President said Oba Ewuare II “continues as a source of inspiration to the country for his remarkable tenacity in the preservation of the cherished cultural values and traditions of the Benin Kingdom”.


“He is the ultimate Oba,” the former President noted, urging the media and the recorders of modern history to focus on Oba Ewuare II as a champion of good conduct and guardian of the cherished values and traditions of his people.

“Long Live the Oba, Long Live The Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Buhari added.




https://dailypost.ng/2023/10/21/he-is-king-among-kings-buhari-hails-oba-of-benin-on-70th-birthday/

Them that know their God shall do exploit.....

How much did they pay you guys to mis inform the public with these early pictures of people gathering Why do you choose to join them to oppress your own people and yourself included?? Only because of peanut or sentiment I laugh, mumu listen if Nigeria gets a good leader, everyone including you will benefit and if we get a bad leader, everyone including you, your family and loved ones will suffer. Start using your head

Why are you misinforming the public?? Do you really like the way Nigeria is now?? Think with your head and stop this rubbish before you diee young

Front page please.....

President Backs Ultramodern Royal Museum at Oba of Benin’s Palace

Deji ElumoyeApril 30, 2022 6:20 Am

*Germany to return 1,130 looted Benin bronzes to Nigeria

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday backed the planned ultramodern international standard Benin Royal Museum that would house the Benin Bronzes and other artefacts being returned to Nigeria, for the purpose of preserving history, tourism and education.

The President announced his support while receiving in audience at the State House, Abuja, the Oba of Benin, H.R.M. Omo N’Oba Uku Akpolokpolo Ewuare II, accompanied by members of the Royal Court of Benin and the Board of Trustees of the Benin Royal Museum.

The Royal Majesty was at the State House to thank the President on the recent return of two important Benin Bronzes to its original place of abode by the University of Cambridge and the University of Aberdeen, both in the United Kingdom, after 125 years.

The Royal Museum, to be housed in the palace of the Oba of Benin, is in conjunction with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM).

The Oba of Benin told the President: “We want to reassure Mr. President that the Royal Court of Benin and NCMM are working closely to ensure safe custody, preservation and enhancement of these Benin Bronzes and artefacts, not only for their cultural and economic benefits, but more importantly towards the promotion of the tourism industry in Nigeria.”

The Royal Majesty reassured Nigerians that the Benin Bronzes and artefacts represent the country’s  cultural heritage in particular and Africa in general, saying “we hold these objects in trust as the original owners in conjunction with NCMM for the benefit of all.”

Earlier, the President declared that the federal government would continue to vigorously pursue the repatriation of Nigeria’s looted artefacts from abroad, including 1,130 Benin Bronzes in Germany’s public museums and Ife terracotta/bronze heads in Netherlands and United States museums.

Speaking on the returned artefacts, Buhari expressed delight that it had brought immense goodwill and acclaim to Nigeria, the ancient Benin Kingdom, as well as happiness to the Oba of Benin.

He noted that while it was widely acknowledged around the world that some of the best ancient arts belong to Nigeria, including those from Benin, Ife, Nok and Igbo-Ukwu, many of these beautiful works were illicitly taken away, particularly during the colonial period.

Affirming that these great cultural and artistic works were records of history, the President vowed that Nigeria would not permit these great works to become properties of others, adding that this administration had made it an important task to ensure the return of the artefacts.

The President, therefore, assured the first-class traditional ruler that the federal Government would continue in this great cause with his support and that of other traditional rulers.

He said: “In furtherance to these efforts, an agreement between Nigeria and Germany is currently being prepared. When concluded, it will signify the return to Nigeria by Germany of all the 1,130 Benin Bronzes in Germany’s public museums. This will be a monumental achievement.

‘‘Furthermore, on the 7th of this month, the Glasgow City Council agreed to return 17 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria. The legal issues are in the process of being sorted out.

‘‘Other success stories include the return by the Netherlands in October 2020 of a 600-year-old Ife Terracotta; the return in April 2021 of a bronze piece from Mexico; as well as the repatriation, in November 2021, of two Benin Bronzes and an Ife Bronze head from the Metropolitan Museum, New York.”

President Buhari announced that because of the determined efforts of this administration, “Nigeria is now regarded to be in the forefront globally in the struggle to repatriate illicitly-exported artefacts to their countries of origin.”

The President acknowledged the efforts of officials of the NCMM currently working with the Oxford University, the Great North Museum of Newcastle University, Rhode Island School and numerous other places on the modalities for the return of Nigerian antiquities, particularly the Benin Bronzes.

He expressed optimism that with careful planning and management, Nigeria could generate revenue from the repatriated antiquities.

Buhari said: “We look forward to a future when these returned antiquities and our arts and culture shall be deployed in generating revenue for the nation.

“I am glad to hear that the Ministry of Information and Culture and the NCMM are already working towards this by reaching out to other nations and cultural institutions on travelling exhibitions to showcase the rich culture of Nigeria through these antiquities.

“This can happen if officials in charge of these priceless artefacts take due care to maintain and preserve these treasures in good condition at all times.”

Also speaking, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, affirmed that Nigeria would continue to assert its rights over all its antiquities around the world.

He added that the country would not hesitate to implore nations, institutions, men and women of goodwill to see the unfairness in the affairs of one body holding on to the cultural property fashioned by the genius of another.





.........................................................................................

Powered by

Founded on January 22, 1995, THISDAY is published by THISDAY NEWSPAPERS LTD., 35 Creek Road Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria with offices in 36 states of Nigeria , the Federal Capital Territory and around the world. It is Nigeria's most authoritative news media available on all platforms for the political, business, professional and diplomatic elite and broader middle classes while serving as the meeting point of new ideas, culture and technology for the aspirationals and millennials. The newspaper is a public trust dedicated to the pursuit of truth and reason covering a range of issues from breaking news to politics, business, the markets, the arts, sports and community to the crossroads of people and society.







https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2022/04/30/president-backs-ultramodern-royal-museum-at-oba-of-benins-palace/



Watch the Video Here...



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW4iw6H7AfQ

Its become a global call.. its time for repossession. It's important.. let the discussion ans drive continue home and abroad till we get all that was looted........ PLS LALASTICAL, SEUN AND OTHERS MOVE TO FRONT PAGE

The world knows about blood diamonds. It’s time it learned about blood art.

Last week brought the welcome news that some of the treasures of the Kingdom of Benin looted by the British more than a century ago will at last be repatriated to Nigeria. The Smithsonian Institution has announced that it will return its collection of priceless Benin artifacts — 39 pieces in all — once it hammers out the details of an agreement with Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments. Other institutions should follow the Smithsonian’s lead.


The Benin Bronzes, as they are known, are a rich trove of centuries-old artifacts. This year marks 125 years since the British sent more than 1,000 troops to slaughter the people of Benin City. The 1897 raid — known as “The Punitive Expedition” — was a response to the Benin ambush of an earlier British expedition. The exact number of Benin City victims is unknown (some historians say it could be in the thousands), but the killing and destruction were not the end of the crime that was carried out.


When the British entered the Benin Oba (King’s) palace, they found “several hundred unique bronze plaques, suggestive of almost Egyptian design, but of really superb casting,” according to Reginald Bacon, an intelligence officer with the expedition. Soldiers walked out with the plaques, along with other art, ivory, brass, jewelry and garments. Thousands of pieces were taken.



They were “not just loot, they were blood art,” Australian journalist Marc Fennell explained on the podcast “Stuff the British Stole.” Indeed, word was sent back to Britain that selling off Benin’s objects could help offset the cost of the war.

To the Kingdom of Benin and its descendants, the works represented both the pinnacle of their spirituality and the perfection of their craft. The British saw a piggybank for their imperial desires.



“Blood art” is not a term we typically use to describe treasures taken from colonial subjects. But how are they any different from blood diamonds and conflict minerals?

The concept of “blood diamonds” grew out of violent 1990s conflicts in Africa and usually refers to diamonds mined by African rebel groups to fund insurgencies against legitimate governments. In the early 2000s, representatives of diamond-producing states met to come up with Kimberley Process to try to curb the trade of conflict diamonds. The 2006 movie “Blood Diamond” also served to increase global consciousness about diamonds that helped fuel war in Africa.

What defense can there be for holding on to looted objects, then? The standard answer is that returning works from major institutions in the West would come at the cost of preservation, worldwide knowledge and admiration. Yet true education about such objects is already minimized. The polite little information cards under these artifacts rarely tell viewers that the plundered objects helped fund colonial violence.



Proudly owning and displaying stolen art are no less shocking than proudly owning and displaying diamonds that play a role in killing people. If you wouldn’t do one, don’t do the other.

A trickle of change must be turned into a torrent, and I hope the Smithsonian’s agreement will help to touch one off. “Blood art” surely needs its Hollywood moment.

The global Black Lives Matter protests of 2020 put a long-needed spotlight on Western museums and demands by African governments to have their heritages returned. Last year, Germany said it would return Benin Bronzes to Nigeria. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York returned two of its Benin Bronzes, albeit out of a collection of 160.



In 2012, Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts received a promise of 32 Benin Bronzes, to be transferred over time, from the private collection of Robert Owen Lehman (yes, of Lehman Brothers banking stock). Though Nigeria demanded the art be returned, the museum displayed all 32 of the Bronzes and took ownership of five of them. In November 2021, the Boston Globe’s Malcolm Gay reported that the museum would pause the transfer of ownership of the remaining 27. But museum director Matthew Teitelbaum said “we certainly don’t think we should encourage the return of the objects to the donor.”

To the donor? How about doing the right thing and sending them home?

Meanwhile, the British Museum continues to hold on to its blood art collection of more than 900 Benin Bronzes, offering only temporarily loans back to Nigeria.

Lending stolen items back to their rightful owner adds modern-day insult to colonial-era injury.

More than a century after the Punitive Expedition, the British are still trying to get away with their plunder. But the tide is changing — and it’s good to see an American institution such as the Smithsonian helping to rectify this deep harm by repatriating art stolen in cold blood.




https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/03/14/smithsonian-benin-bronzes-stolen-art-british-museum/



https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/03/12/oxford-cambridge-return-looted-benin-bronzes-nigeria-within/

Lalastical pls do the needful... This is a victory for all Africans..... thanks

By Ozioruva Aliu, BENIN CITY


ONE hundred and twenty-five years after they were first looted out of the palace of Benin, two artefacts; a cockerel (okpa) and Uhunwun Elao (Oba head) were formally handed over to the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II in an elaborate ceremony in the palace yesterday.

The two artefacts out of about 10,000 which were taken from the palace during the British expedition of 1897 were returned by Jesus College of Cambridge University and University of Aberdeen, Scotland.



The ceremony attracted prominent Benin sons and daughters, members of the royal family, various societies and groups in the kingdom, the Director-General, National Commission of Museums and Monuments (NCMM) Professor Abba Tijani, the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Tunji Ishola, traditional rulers from Edo North and Edo Central senatorial districts, representative of the Ooni of Ife, the Hausa and Yoruba communities, the Muslim community, men of the various security agencies and others.

While officially handing over the items to Oba Ewuare II Ambassador Ishola said the two items have been preserved in their original forms when they were taken away 125 years ago and the value of the Cockerel today is £2 million while the Oba head is valued at £500,000.


He said “When I came in December 2021, I promised to bring the objects here physically and today I have come to do that because we have a talk and do president in President Muhammadu Buhari who instructed that the objects must be handed over physically. I have come to do that.”

He said he was delighted that the works would now be domiciled in their homes of origin and researchers would write about them talking to their real owners.


Ishola said the works were returned with its history of who had housed them right from 1897 till date and how much it was sold or bought at each point.

On his part, the Director-General of NCMM Professor Abba Tijani said it was historical that the artefacts were returned in his tenure when several attempts in the past were frustrated by the holding countries.


He said “I have on many occasions met the holders and told them that these Benin artefacts are not artworks, they are life arts, they are part of the history of these people, they are not works for commercial values or aesthetics, you can imagine that part of your life is taken from you.

“We are making history because none of us were here when they were taken away in 1897 but we are here to receive them. The Commission had made several efforts in the past to see to their return but we encountered many blockades.

“I have already scheduled to visit other countries in Europe to convince these holders to return them”

Oba Ewuare II in his speech which was read by his younger brother, Prince Aghatise Erediauwa said the day was a day of joy personally “and to all Benin people at home and in Diaspora. We are witnessing today the beginning of the restitution of our artefacts which were looted in 1897.

He said contrary to reports that the military expedition of 1897 was a retaliation for the killing of some British soldiers, “The truth is that there was a calculated and a deliberately conceived plan to attack Benin for its territorial dominance and also for her treasures. The result was a destruction of a civilization that equalled or even surpassed that of the aggressors. It was thought that the kingdom, totally decimated and in ruins in the aftermath of the war, would not rise again. By the grace of God and our Ancestors, we are still standing.

“The current conversation is about restitution. International scholars and most museums now agree that keeping stolen items is immoral and illegal. There is a consensus now that heritage items must be returned to their place of origin. For this, we commend both Jesus College of Cambridge University and the University of Aberdeen for their pace-setting initiative in returning these two bronzes. Of course, there remain a very large number of our artefacts out there.

We are aware of the ongoing discussions which the Federal Government, through the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, is holding with various governments on our behalf. We are also aware that the major museums will miss having Benin Bronzes in their collections. I believe that a working arrangement can be

agreed whereby our ownership of the artefacts having been established, those museums will continue to enjoy the presence of our artefacts.”

He commended President Buhari for his interest in ensuring the return of the artefacts.

Vanguard News Nigeria............................






https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/02/125yrs-after-oba-of-benin-takes-physical-possession-of-returned-artefacts/amp/

Lalatiscal pls forward to front page.. let Nigerians know that we are making progress

Home - Dailytrust


Jubilation As Oba Of Benin Receives Artefacts Looted During British Invasion


By
Usman A. Bello
Sat, 19 Feb 2022 20:13:51 GMT

There was jubilation in the ancient city of Benin when Oba Ewuare II received two of the artefacts – Cockerel and the bronze burst of an Oba – looted from Benin Kingdom during the 1897 British military expedition.

Daily Trust reports that President Muhammadu Buhari presented the artefacts to Oba Ewuare, through the Nigeria Ambassador to United Kingdom, Sarafa Isola

I Love My Wife, Toyin Abraham, More Than My Mum — Husband
Kano APC Crisis: Shekarau, others accuse APC National Secretariat of bias

Speaking during the presentation, Oba Ewuare II described the return as the beginning of the restitution of the artefacts that were looted in 1897.

The monarch, who spoke through Prince Aghatise Eresiawa, said, “For us, our bronzes transcend mere art. They are mostly of religious significance to us and these two bronze pieces will return to where they rightly belong.”


“I will reiterate that the bronzes and other works that were looted from the Palace must be returned here directly or through the agency of the Federal Government.”


While expressing appreciation to the president, who directed that the bronzes be handed to him directly, he commended both Jesus College of Cambridge University and the University of Aberdeen for their pace-setting initiative in returning these two bronzes.

On his part, Amb. Sarafa Isola said history was being made as the artefacts were being returned to right the wrong of the past.

“My assignment here is to directly bring these objects to the Oba of Benin Kingdom. That is the presidential directive”


“Value has been added to these artefacts. I am not aware of the value as at when it was taken away but as at today, the Cockerel is valued at £2million while the Oba’s head is valued and insured for £500,000 pounds.

“We will still see many of them come back and it is a great treasure for Benin kingdom and Nigeria.

The ambassador commended the British government for granting export licenses for the artefacts at no cost to Nigeria, hoping that more of the looted artworks would be returned.

Also speaking, Godwin Obaseki represented by his Chief of Staff, Monday Osaigbovo, pledged to support the palace in the return of the artifacts.

He said any institution willing to return the artifacts should liase with the palace.

Earlier, the Director-General, the Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Prof Abba Isa Tijani, said history had started taken its proper shape during the reign of Oba Ewuare, as the looted artifacts started coming to their place of origin.

According to him, the artefacts are living arts, artefacts of the Benin people, as they were not produced for the sake of money or aesthetics, but part of their history, culture and daily life

https://dailytrust.com/jubilation-as-oba-of-benin-receives-artefacts-looted-during-british-invasion