Oba of Benin: Okpebholo goes hard against Obaseki

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The new traditional councils established in the Edo South senatorial district by his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki, have been disbanded by Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo.

According to the ZINGTIE, Okpebholo also mandated that the status quo prior to the establishment of the now-defunct councils be preserved and reinstated the Benin Traditional Council’s (BTC) statutory financial rights.

The governor’s chief press secretary, Fred Itua, said this in a statement released in Benin City on Sunday.

By returning the Oba of Benin’s full statutory rights to the ownership of ancient treasures looted by British colonial soldiers during the 1897 Benin massacre, the governor also complied with the Federal Government’s instruction, Itua noted.

According to the statement, the choices were consistent with the governor’s efforts to improve relations between the people and the government and to further rectify the wrongs of the previous administration.

Additionally, the state government retracted the letter that the previous administration had issued rescinding the concession for the Oba Akenzua II Cultural Centre.

The statement claims that the Okpebholo administration is working to get the centre back to a state that is appropriate for its original use.

Parts of the statement read: “This administration also hereby abolishes the new traditional councils in Edo South, created by the last administration.

“Governor Okpebholo has restored the statutory financial entitlements of the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) and has ordered that the status quo before the creation of the now abolished councils be maintained.

“The Okpebholo administration is backing the initial plan of the State Government to build the Benin Royal Museum that will house the returned artefacts and is distancing itself from the Museum of West Africa Art (MOWA) which the previous administration fronted.

“The Federal Government had issued a Gazette for the recognition of ownership and custody of the repatriated Benin artefacts to Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II. This was done through a Government Notice No.25 in the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette No.57, Volume 110.

“Governor Okpebholo respects the rights and privileges of the traditional ruler of Benin Kingdom, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare ll and pledges the support of his administration to ensure the Monarch plays his role as the custodian of the rich cultural heritage of the Benin people.

“It is in recognition of this that the administration of Governor Okpebholo shall support the decision of the Federal Government to uphold the Oba of Benin as the exclusive owner of the returned Benin artifacts that were looted by the British Colonial forces during the Benin masaca of 1897.

“The Oba of Benin, as the father of all Benin people, is the sole custodian of the customs and traditions of the Benin people and my administration respects customs and traditions in the land and hereby restores the statutory rights of the Oba of Benin as the true custodian of the returned Benin artefacts

“Governor Okpebholo said his administration is committed and will refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of the Benin Traditional Council

“The Governor is using his constitutional powers and the respect for traditional institutions and the revered Oba of Benin to restore all other Statutory Rights of the Monarch not mentioned hereof.”

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