Benin National Congress

We bring you greetings from the ancient City of Benin. Ours is a pan socio cultural organization committed to the propagation of excellent achievements through hard work and diligence; amongst other noble objectives that we have set out to pursue vigorously with humility and a good sense of purpose. May we humbly and most respectfully bring to your lordship’s knowledge a case of alleged stealing of Benin Artifacts, which were valued in the last international exhibition for over 100 million (One Hundred million) dollars from the custody of Benin Museum in the last eight years.

For the purpose of the records, Madam Speaker, following the speculations that these precious objects were missing, the Congress committee on cultural heritage was saddled with the task of investigating the matter. The committee interviewed the curator of Benin Museum, ex-curators of the Museum and other top officials of the Museum whom did not dispute the allegation of disappearance of these objects. Following the adoption of the report of the committee that examined the allegation of the missing artifacts, the Congress on the 30 of August dispatched a letter to the Director General of the National Museums and Monuments. We sincerely appealed to the D.G. to intervene because of the impending social and spiritual implications over the alleged disappearance of the “pride of the Benins”.

After twelve days of confirmation of receipt of our letter and no reply whatsoever from the office of the D.G. and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism; the National Council for Museums and Monuments whom were also copied, the Congress addressed a world press conference to sensitize the public of the ugly developments precisely 12 September 2007.

On the 26 of September 2007, some persons visited our Secretariat; the incumbent curator of the Museum led them. The most senior among them in rank, introduced himself as Alh. Danladi Passali. He said they were members of a panel set up by the Director General to investigate the allegations raised by the Congress. He then hinted that the Congress should make an appearance same day to testify over the petition. We observed that though the notice was less than two hours before the formal meeting, we would not the less appear before them. The Congress leadership however doubted their sincerity of purpose.

Madam Speaker, we sincerely believe that your proactive disposition to issues of national interest in the few months of your Lordship’s assumption of office is most encouraging and inspiring hence our resolve to present this case to you on behalf of the good people of Benin nation. We are begging you to wade in urgently because information in the grave vine is that the concerned officials have vowed that nothing would come out of this campaign to see to the recovery of these precious objects of Benin origin. Our worry is that if urgent interventions are not made, our people may resort to self-help, which has the tendency of producing unpleasant repercussions.

We wish to state emphatically that our objective of the campaign for the recovery of these objects is to see that the original objects are recovered and kept properly in the Museum’s custody under strict security for the benefit of the interested public and the enculturation interest of the Benins particularly. We want to assure you madam Speaker that we would exercise patience even though our people are still sobering profusely over the “Authority Stealing” of about the most precious works of our ancestors. A reference point to this are publications wherein His Royal Majesty, The Oba of Benin (the Chief custodian of Benin Customs and Heritage) was reported to be highly disappointed when the Museum panel visited his palace on the 27 of September 2007. please see page 38 and 39 of the Insider Magazine, volume 41 and dated October 22, 2007.

We respectfully submit the following prayer-

1. That the house set up an ad-hoc committee of inquiry to investigate the issue.
• That the Hon. Speaker considers the need to pay a visit to the Benin Museum.
• That the Director General of the National Commission for Museums is made to formally respond to the ad-hoc committee.
• That ex-curators and experts of the Museum are made to testify before the committee of inquiry.
• That all Artifacts in Nigeria and overseas exhibition are forensically examined.

Thanks
Yours Truly

Comrade Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo - President
Mr. Omowemwenguan Imadiyi - Ag. Secretary General
Hon. Owenaze Guobadia - Chief Welfare Officer
Mr. Osakue Olotu - Director of Action and Mobilization.