The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has asked the Federal Government not to allow Gov. Obaseki take custody of 1,130 stolen Benin artefacts after they are repatriated from Europe to Nigeria.
The Minister of Information and culture, Lai Mohammed and the Governor of Edo State, Gov. Obaseki are making plans to bring back the artefacts which were allegedly looted during the invasion of the Benin Kingdom in 1897 by the British led by Captain Philip.
However, the Oba of Benin Palace and the Edo State Government are at loggerheads over where the artefacts will be housed. The Oba asked the Federal Government to temporarily take custody of the artefacts.
While the palace wants the artefacts kept in the Benin Royal Museum, which will be built within the palace, the state government wants the items preserved in the proposed Edo Museum of West African Arts.
Mazino, Host on Wake Up Nigeria however, has a different view. Mazino says he prefers the artefacts remain where they are. While discussing this on the coffee table gist segment on Wake Up Nigeria, Mazino said;
“Don’t bring them back. We can’t take care of them. We thank you oyibo people for preserving them since. Bring them back, we run the risk of them deteriorating, going bad, stolen or just misused.”
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Mazino who is a bike tourist, shares his experience visiting some of the museums he has been to in Nigeria. According to Mazino, the artefacts in those museums might be kept or secured, but they are not preserved. “So it’s a risk bringing them to Nigeria,” Titi pointed out.
Though it may seems there’s controversy on who will take custody of the artefacts when they arrive Nigeria, Gov. Obaseki has promised to cooperate with the palace and the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II over the over the return of the art work.
