Oba Ewuare II tok say about 40 looted Benin artefacts go arrive from Sweden

Di Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, tok on Wednesday say about 40 artefacts wey dem carry from di kingdom during di British invasion of 1897 go come back from one museum in Sweden.

E announce di planned return for im palace in Benin City while e receive di chairman of di National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd).

According to di monarch, di handover go join di legal transfer of ownership with di physical delivery of di objects. E tok say past returns often separate di two steps, with ownership papers signed long before di works arrive home.

“Tomorrow, more artefacts dey come from that Sweden wey I talk, as a result of our effort many years back,” di Oba tok.

Reports differ small on timing. BusinessDay and PM News quote di Oba say di artefacts dey come on Thursday, while ThisDay report say dem expect dem in Benin City within di week, with a delegation travelling to Lagos to receive dem.

Why e matter

Di Benin bronzes and other royal works na among Nigeria best-known cultural treasures. Many carry off during di 1897 expedition and now dem dey for museums across Europe.

Their return na matter of identity and pride for di Benin people, and di palace don push for years to bring dem home. Di Oba tok say di campaign no just about recovering objects but about restoring di history and dignity of di kingdom.

E trace di effort to im grandfather and father, and to im own time as Nigeria ambassador to Scandinavian countries, including Sweden, Norway and Denmark. E recall say e propose make dem show Benin artworks to di royal families of those countries to draw attention to di kingdom heritage.

E also tok say di palace fight off attempts by some people to re-loot di returned works. “We battle prospective relooters of our artefacts,” e tok, vowing e no go happen while e dey throne.

Di Oba thank di Federal Government, traditional institutions and other partners for their support, and tok say e adjust im schedule to attend di handover himself.

Marwa seek royal backing on drugs

Marwa, wey dey Edo for assessment visit to di NDLEA state command and di Nigerian Army Second Regimental Sergeant Majors Convention, praise di craftsmanship of di Benin works. “There are seven wonders of the world. Look at the eighth wonder here,” e tok.

E ask di Oba to lend di weight of di throne to di fight against drug abuse, kidnapping and other crimes, as di palace do with im stand against human trafficking.

Marwa tok say di agency introduce new approach called Alternative Development, aimed at communities wey dey grow cannabis. E tok say 75 per cent of di 16 million kilogrammes of illicit substances wey dem seize in six years na cannabis grown in Nigeria, with Edo among di cultivating states.

Di plan, e tok, na to persuade growers to switch to cassava, yam and maize, with government support for roads, schools, clinics and water. A pilot don start in three communities in Ondo State, and e tok say Edo fit be next.

Governor Monday Okpebholo, wey also receive Marwa in Benin City, tok say drug abuse dey drive cultism, kidnapping and other violent crimes, and say government no fit win di fight alone.

Wetin happen next: Dem expect di artefacts in Nigeria this week, with di palace set to receive dem. Di NDLEA go continue talks with Edo on extending im alternative development programme to cannabis-growing communities.