Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has described the return of the Benin Bronzes as a historic milestone for the Benin Kingdom, insisting that the priceless artefacts belong exclusively to the Oba of Benin’s Palace and should never become a subject of political controversy.
Governor Monday Okpebholo has reaffirmed that the Benin Bronzes are the cultural and spiritual heritage of the Benin Kingdom, declaring that all returned artefacts rightfully belong to the Oba of Benin’s Palace. Speaking while receiving a delegation from the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) and Swiss officials at the Government House in Benin City, the governor described the return of the artefacts as a defining moment in the kingdom’s history.
Okpebholo commended the Government of Switzerland and other international partners involved in the restitution process, saying their efforts marked a significant step toward restoring the cultural identity of the Benin people.
He stressed that the bronzes are more than artistic objects, describing them as symbols of the history, identity and spiritual heritage of the Benin Kingdom.
“There is no point playing politics with them. They all belong to the Oba’s Palace. We have only one Oba’s Palace in Edo State,” the governor said.
The Benin Bronzes were looted during the 1897 British punitive expedition against the ancient Benin Kingdom and have since been housed in museums and private collections across Europe and North America.
In recent years, several countries and institutions have begun returning the artefacts to Nigeria as part of global restitution efforts. Switzerland recently completed the return of another batch of Benin artefacts through collaboration with the NCMM.
The Director-General of the NCMM, Olugbile Holloway, said the commission remains committed to securing the return of more looted artefacts from museums and institutions around the world.
Swiss Consul General Conny Camenzind also described the restitution as an important milestone in cultural cooperation between Switzerland and Nigeria, expressing satisfaction with the successful return process.
Governor Okpebholo expressed optimism that more Benin artefacts currently held overseas would eventually be returned, emphasizing that preserving the kingdom’s cultural heritage should remain above politics. He urged all stakeholders to support ongoing restitution efforts and respect the traditional institution’s custodianship of the artefacts.