THE STOLEN ARTIFACTS BY THE BRITISH IN YEAR 1897 FROM BENIN PALACE SHOULD BE RETURNED TO OBA PALACE WHERE IT WAS STOLEN

By Comrade Ambassador Curtis Ogbebor

Once upon a time in Benin kingdom, a certain chief Obaseki the great grandfather of Obaseki family on a certain day on a certain month in year 1897 betrayed Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi the then Oba of Bini kingdom and the entire Bini kingdom, conspired with British to invade, kill, destroy bini kingdom, dethrone our Oba, loot, steal Bini artifacts and other symbols of our cultural heritage.

After a century, due to agitations from our Obas and inhabitants of Bini Kingdom, the Britain who came to steal, kill and destroy reluctantly agreed to return the stolen artifacts to Oba palace where it was stolen but again, Obaseki the great grandson who is the leader within the metropolitan city again reach out to the looters who stole the artefacts, like the great grandfather, conspire to betray the great Oba of Benin, Oba Ewere ii and the entire Benin people again in quest to reloot, take possession of the artifacts, but fortunately, the entire Benin inhabitants who are subject to the great Oba of Benin kingdom and due to the love they have for the Oba, the kingdom, our culture and tradition stood in unism against Obaseki the great grandson and his plans could not prevail.

No individual, Government or government agencies should take glory for the return of the stolen artifacts except the Benin monarch and the entire inhabitants of Benin kingdom who had at different fora agitate for it’s return. The struggle for the return of the artifacts started about century ago and all Obas, chiefs and well meaning Edos had at a time for the purpose of Justice agitate, request, demands the unconditional return of the stolen properties of Benin traditional institution back to the Benin palace where it was forcefully taken from.

Without much ado, the artifacts is the cultural heritage of the Benin kingdom and the Edo people, it is symbolically to our culture and tradition, no government nor individual can take possession of the artifacts except the Oba of Benin.
Whoever likes artifacts, wants to build museum for business purpose or for whatever reason should consult and employ the services of professional goldsmiths in Igun N’ Eronmwon and other places in Eso state and across the country.

LET’S PRAY FOR OUR GOVERNOR SAYS OUR OBA
Our Oba’s emphasis on prayers for the Governor reminds me of the tragetic encounter of Captain Oyearugbulem the then military administrator of Edo state with the Benin monarch.

History

The then military administrator of the state, the late Navy Captain Onyearugbulem suspended the Benin monarch (Oba Erediauwa) as chairperson of the Edo State Traditional Rulers Council for alleged political partisanship. The suspension was resisted by the palace and the entire Binis, at a stage, some traditional priests in the Benin Kingdom threatened to launch spiritual warfare against Onyearugbulem’s administration if he failed to apologize to the Oba of Benin.
According to sources; The then Oba, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpololor Oba Erediauwa was grieved but did not pronounce or lay curse on Oyearugbule because according the belief, Benin tradition; Oba ê tié ébo énikaro óguinã (The Oba does not curse anyone but can only complain, apeal and appease his ancestors for intervention). Captain Oyearugbule later apologised to the Oba and his apology was accepted But despite that, Oyearugbulem allegedly died mysteriously in a hotel room in Kaduna in year 2002 at the age of 47 shortly after he was removed as the military administrator of Edo state. And some of his family members also allegedly had shares of tragedies.

I do not intend to link nor connect the said mysterious death of the then military administrator to the enmeshed, the fuss or hullabaloo he had with the benin monarch but just want to remind us that;

#Aigúóbatilè (No one challenges or bet with the Oba)
#Aigúóbaven (No one wrestle with Oba)
#Aiguobarueghian (No create enemity with Oba)
#Aigúóbasinmwin (No one drags with Oba)
#Okhionba-efuédé (enemy of Oba does not grow grey hair)