The All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate for the September 21 Edo State governorship election, Senator Monday Okpebholo, yesterday congratulated the Benin monarch, Ewuare II,Oba of Benin over the planned repatriation of 39 stolen artefacts by the Swedish government.
A statement from the chief press secretary to the Benin monarch, Osaigbovo Iguobaro had said the Sweden, through her Ambassador to Nigeria, Annika Hahn-Englund, had decided to return 39 Benin artefacts in its care to the monarch.
Okpebholo in a press statement Benin City said he joined other Nigerians to congratulate the monarch.
The senator who is representing Edo Central said news of the return of the artefacts did not come to him as a surprise, maintaining that the monarch had redefined African cultural heritage both as a diplomat and as a royal father.
“The stolen artefacts are very germane to the history of Benin kingdom. The return of the artefacts 127 years after they were stolen, reminds us of the travails of African heritage in the hands of colonial plunderers. We therefore have every reason to celebrate your resilience and tenacity at this auspicious time of our history,” he said.
“We will continue to support His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II, in his lofty programmes to preserve the unity, peace, and heritage of our people and culture. Under my watch as governor of Edo State, we will promote, respect and engage the traditional institution, especially the Benin monarch, for the good of the state.”
He, however, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support and cooperation with the Palace of the Oba of Benin on the Benin Royal Museum project, which he said he believes will impact positively on the development of tourism in Edo state and Nigeria in general.
