BENIN CITY- Edo State Government weekend hosted a dinner party in honour of the Benin Dialogue Group at the Government House,Benin City.
Members from across reputable museums in Europe joined their Nigerian counter parts in the ancient city of Benin to form a common ground for negotiation.
The Benin Dialogue Group is a tripartite body of the Benin Royal family, the Edo State Government and owners of museum across Europe. The Dialogue is negotiating tool with a view to returning all the Benin artifacts carted away to Europe during the colonial era. When returned eventually, they are expected to form the envisaged Benin Royal Museum.
The guests savoured the rich Edo culture in music and dance drama spiced up with delicious meals and wines in the serene Government House environment.
In his short remarks, Governor Godwin Obaseki, represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, expressed his optimism at the prospect of the return of the stolen rich artefacts.
He told the Dialogue Team of Government’s strong desire to receive and keep these priceless artefacts in the expected Royal Museum to be set up in Benin City, adding that Government was ready to collaborate with the team in its efforts at bringing this project to reality.
Moreover, he informed on how government was open to learn from the British experience on turning these artefacts to means of earning revenue and attracting foreign tourists.
On a convivial note, Shaibu informed his guests on how the Benin Kingdom and the United Kingdom were the only two recognized kingdoms in the world.
Thrashing the misconception about the state, Shaibu talked on government’s interventions thus far, which have led to the ban of the Community Development Association (CDA) and the state’s relentless advocacy to stop illegal migration and human trafficking, adding that it was with the full backing of Oba Ewuare, The Oba of Benin.
Speaking from the Legal perspective, Attorney General and Commisdioner for Justice, Prof Yinka Omorogbe stated that an agreement was reached with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments to exhibit these artefacts in a new museum in Benin City.
Giving a run down of the history, she said the Benin Dialogue Group was formed in 2010 as a conversation platform between the state government and the diasporas where the lost Benin artefacts were housed.
So far, she said this was the sixth meeting in the series of dialogues. It was agreed from the prior meeting, to host the diasporas in Benin, where they would see things for themselves, to better appreciate the planned exhibition scheduled for Benin in two or three years time.
Leader of the English team, Mr. Jonathan Fine appreciated the intervention by the state government as he gave a brief synopsis on the artefacts.
