Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has described the return of a fresh batch of Benin Bronzes from Switzerland as a historic milestone for the Benin Kingdom, insisting that the artefacts belong to the Oba of Benin’s Palace and should not be politicised. 

The governor made the remarks on Wednesday while receiving a delegation at Government House in Benin City, led by the Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Olugbile Holloway, alongside the Consul General of Switzerland in Lagos, Conny Camenzind, and officials from the Ethnographic Museum of the University of Zurich.

Okpebholo commended the Swiss government and other stakeholders involved in the restitution process, describing the moment as a defining chapter in the history of the Benin Kingdom. He stressed that the bronzes represent more than artistic value, calling them symbolic and spiritual to the Benin people, and insisted that the artefacts should remain under the custody of the traditional institution rather than become a subject of political contention.

Reflecting on the history behind the removal of the artefacts, the governor recalled that they were taken during the British expedition to Benin in 1897, driven by global fascination with the achievements of the Benin Empire. He expressed gratitude to the Swiss government for taking the initiative to return the pieces to their rightful owners, describing the gesture as one that would strengthen cultural ties between both nations.

Holloway, speaking on behalf of the NCMM, said Benin remained “ground zero” in the broader restitution conversation and confirmed that the commission was working closely with the Palace and the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, to secure the return of more looted artefacts from foreign museums. He disclosed that all the artefacts returned by Switzerland had already arrived in Nigeria and were currently in Lagos, with the delegation expected to proceed to the Oba’s Palace to symbolically present some of the pieces to the monarch for ceremonial blessings.

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