FG wades into Obaseki, Oba of Benin rift over bronze artefacts returned from Germany

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said that the Federal Government will now take possession of the 1,130 looted Benin bronzes being expected from Germany, in line with operative conventions and laws guiding such procedures.

Addressing arts and culture media on efforts made by the Federal Government towards ensuring return of other artefacts to the country, Saturday in Lagos, Mohammed said the decision on the Benin heritage items also follows the rancor that has sprung between the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II over who should take custody of the returned artworks.

While the Benin monarch demands that the artefacts stolen from his Palace in 1987 to be returned to a museum to be built within the palace premises, the governor opted for a private trust to take custody and manage the artefacts.

Wading into the brewing rift between the governor and the Benin monarch, the Minister said the Federal Government was the entity recognised by international law as the authority in control of antiquities originating from the country.

“The Federal Government is aware of the widely-reported controversy when on who will take possession of the Benin Bronzes when they are returned from Germany.

“Let me state clearly here that, in line with international best practice and the operative Conventions and laws, the return of the artefacts is being negotiated bilaterally between the national governments of Nigeria and Germany.

“Nigeria is the entity recognised by international law as the authority in control of antiquities originating from Nigeria.

“The relevant international Conventions treat heritage properties as properties belonging to the nation and not to individuals or sub-national groups,’’ he said.

The minister cited the 1970 UNESCO Convention, in its Article 1 which defines cultural property as property specifically designated by that nation.

He said the provision allows individual nations to determine what it regards as its cultural property.

He, however noted that the provision notwithstanding, his ministry had been working over the past years to repatriate looted artefacts in partnership with traditional institutions and state governments.

“What we are saying in essence is that the federal government will take possession of these antiquities, because it is its duty to do so, in line with the extant laws.

“We have always exercised this right in cognisance of that culture that produced the art works.

“That is why the Ministry of Information and Culture and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments have always involved both the Edo State government and the Royal Benin Palace in discussions and negotiations that have now resulted in the impending return of these antiquities,” he said.

The minister said the federal government was not just involved in the repatriation of Benin artefacts.

He said his ministry was also working on repatriating Ife Bronzes and Terracotta, Nok Terracotta, Owo Terracotta, the arts of the Benue River Valley, the Igbo Ukwu and the arts of Bida, Igala, Jukun and others.

Mohammed commended the Government of Germany for taking the lead in the global efforts to repatriate all artefacts that were looted from Nigeria and from the African continent.

“As I said during the meeting in Berlin, we see Germany as a leader in the efforts to take practical steps to repatriate our stolen artefacts, and we hope Germany will sustain that lead.

He also applauded the development that the repatriation of the artefacts would be the beginning of a new vista of stronger relations and cultural diplomacy between Nigeria and Germany.

He disclosed that there would be archaeological training for Nigerians among other benefits accruing from the ongoing talks.

“The Nigerian side and the German side agreed to Nigeria’s proposal to use the repatriated artefacts and other works of art to inspire Nigeria’s Creative Industry towards realising its huge potential.

“For this and other purposes, it was agreed that the Germans will facilitate the establishment of an academy in Nigeria,” he said.

The minister equally thanked Gov. Godwin Obaseki  for his commitment as well as the Oba for sending the Benin Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Ezelekhae Ewuare, to be a part of the Nigerian delegation to Berlin.

It would be recalled that the minister had, penultimate Thursday, in Berlin, Germany during a meeting with his German counterpart, announced that the country has concluded plans to return 1,130 Benin bronze figures said to have been looted from the Oba of Benin’s palace.

Germany’s Minister of State for Culture, Prof. Monika Grütters, had disclosed that her country will begin the return of 1,130 artefacts taken from Nigeria starting 2022.

German Minister of State for Culture, Prof. Grütters, said ‘the way we deal with the issue of Benin Bronzes is important to addressing our colonial past,’ describing the issues as a ‘an important personal concern.’

She disclosed that the 1,130 artefacts would be returned to Nigeria from the beginning of 2022.

Prof. Gutters noted that the fact that Germany has twice sent delegations to Nigeria for talks over the planned repatriation is an indication that both sides have moved beyond mere talks, saying all the Museums in Germany that are holding Benin Bronzes have agreed to cooperate.

The Nigerian delegation, which also included the Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monument (NCMM), Prof. Abba Tijani, and the Benin Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Ezelekhae Ewuare, was later taken on a guided tour of the Humboldt-Forum, a royal palace turned museum in the heart of Berlin that houses art works from around the world

Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, who is also a member of the Nigerian delegation, said a ‘transformational’ museum is being built in Benin City to house the artefacts upon their return, as part of a new cultural district in the city.