Coalition of Benin Socio Cultural Org Praises German Govt’s Readiness To Return Stolen Artifacts to Benin Kingdom

…As German Govt agrees to contributes to the construction of a new Museum to house the Artifacts

By Simeon OSAJIE

The Coalition of Benin Socio Cultural Organisation,  a  non-governmental, nonprofit  making organization has appreciated  German government’s readiness to return over 1,100 looted Artifacts from the Benin Kingdom and its readiness to contribute to the construction of a new Museum to house the artifacts in the Kingdom.

Benin Kingdom was invaded in 1897 where artifacts that belong to the Benin Kingdom were stolen by British government.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting with Germen government by delegations of His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin Kingdom, signed by Mr. Osazee Amas Edobor, Coordinator General; Iyamu Osaro Culture, Secretary General; Maxist Kola Edokpayi, Public Relations Officer; Osaghae Collins Amadin, Director of Operations; Comrade Osazee Eriamiantoe, Director of Planning; Charity Ozigbo-Esere, Director of Gender Affairs, the Coalition thanked the German Government for their readiness, commitment and steadfastness to repatriating over 1,100  Artifacts that were looted from the Palace of Oba of Benin kingdom to where they were originally taken from which is the revered Oba palace and the Benin kingdom at large and for making further pledge to support the construction of BENIN ROYÀL MUSEUM as the brain child of our revered King (Oba of Benin Kingdom), we are indeed grateful.

Part of the communiqué reads, “Following the sincerity, readiness and commitment over key agreement made by German Government that was signed earlier this year to transferring of more than 1,100 Artifacts to Nigeria and in addition to German Government agreement to contribute to the construction of a new Museum (BENIN ROYÀL MUSEUM) to house the Benin Artifacts near the Royal palace in Benin City, we want to sincerely appreciate the leadership of Humboldt Forum for putting up a holistic programmes in the city of Berlin where Cultural Ambassadors and Media Partners are currently assembling to fashion out numerous ways to see to the realizations of the return of Benin Artifacts and construction of Benin Royal Museum which has been agreed upon by German Government. Thus, in view of the aforesaid, we want to state as follows:

“That we want to thank our revered King (Oba of Benin Kingdom) for finding members of COALITION OF BENIN SOCIO CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS worthy to represent the revered Palace at the Humboldt Forum currently holding in Germany, Berlin despite the short notice and hiccups.

“That we want to thank the leadership of Humboldt Forum for putting up befitting programmes which commences from on the 15th- 18th of September, 2022.

“That we sincerely thank the German Government for their readiness, commitment and steadfastness to repatriating over 1,100  Artifacts that were looted from the Palace of Oba of Benin kingdom to where they were originally taken from which is the revered Oba palace and the Benin kingdom at large and for making further pledge to support the construction of BENIN ROYÀL MUSEUM as the brain child of our revered King (Oba of Benin Kingdom), we are indeed grateful.

“That we are grateful to Nigeria Government led by President Mohammadu Buhari for giving express backing for the return of Benin Artifacts across the World to the original home and abode which is the revered place of the Oba of Benin ,where they were looted from during the British invasion.

“That the Leadership of Humboldt Forum and German Government should continue to deal directly with Nigeria Government headed by President Mohammadu Buhari and the original owner of the stolen Artifacts which is our revered King (Oba of Benin Kingdom) until milestones are achieved.”