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From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Edo State Government has announced plans to rehabilitate and overhaul long abandoned Oba Akenzua II Cultural Centre in Benin City to restore it as a public monument and a hub to attract all cultural activities in the state and beyond.
Secretary to Edo State Government, Musa Ikhilor, disclosed the plan while receiving members and executives of Aiguobasinmwin movement world-wide and coalition of Benin social cultural organisations, who visited him in his office in Benin City.
He noted that aside from the Oba Akenzua II Cultural Centre, the Edo State Government would also renovate some areas in the palace of the Oba of Benin that need renovations.
He stated that the cultural centre would have been renovated and rehabilitated a year ago but lack of budgetary allocation affected the government’s plans.
“The issue of the dilapidation of the Oba Akenzua II Cultural Centre is what should have been handled last year. In fact, the governor sent the then Managing Director (MD) of the Public Building and Maintenance Agency to the place to see how it can be restored.
“The agency did a survey and came up with a plan on how to overhaul and rehabilitate the cultural centre. Lack of budgetary allocation affected the plan, but now, we are reviewing that plan. Aside from the cultural centre, the palace of our revered monarch, the Oba of Benin, is also inclusive in the plan.
“Some renovation work needs to be carried out in the palace. The issue of Oba Akenzua II Cultural Centre and the Palace of the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare II, is being looked into by the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo,” he said.
Ikhilor added that the cultural centre attracted a lot of fun attending cultural events, assuring the people that the Okpebholo-led administration would restore the Centre and ensure it attracts cultural events and activities in Edo State and across the country.
“I recall that at one point, the main event hall was Urokpota Hall, then came the Cultural Centre and it became the centre of events.
“Oba Akenzua II Cultural Centre should be a public monument and a hub for cultural activities. As a government, we are going to ensure we revive it because there are a lot of activities that can take place here, it is what this government will do,” he stressed.
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The Commissioner for Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Chris Okaiben, said Edo culture is one of the greatest in Nigeria, noting that advancing into the creative sector would bring endless benefits to Edo people and the state at large.
He disclosed that his Ministry was planning to organise the creative content and about 1,700 persons had indicated interest, saying that it would scale up the opportunity to promote the achievement of Governor Okpebholo.
“The Ministry will promote the good intentions of the government, promote and encourage tourists destinations for those intending to visit Edo State.
“I am glad to report that our royal father, the Oba of Benin, invited me and informed me that as part of his 10 years coronation, it will begin with the Edo festival. The plan for the celebration is on,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the group, the Coordinator General, coalition of Benin sociocultural organisation, Mr. Amas Osazee, commended governor Okpebholo on his achievement so far on securing the lives and properties of Edo people.
“I want to thank the governor for not playing politics with the returned artefacts of His Royal Majesty. He has done well in that aspect and he made it known to us that he will never play politics with such. We wish him well in managing the affairs of the state.
“As a group, we appeal to the state government to renovate the Oba Akenzua II Cultural Centre. The state of the structure is questionable and not what many people want to see. We appeal to the governor to redirect his focus to that because we are cultural people and believe in the legacy of the monarchy and the state government,” he said.
The President of Aiguobasinmwin movement world-wide, Iyamu Osaro Culture, said the group is always in defence of the culture, the rights of Benin people, and the rights of the Oba of Benin.
He noted that the group had played a significant role in ensuring that the present administration came on board and restored the identity of the Edo people balkanised by the Obaseki-led administration.
“Our support for Governor Okpebholo is not for personal gains but for the administration to restore the identity of the Benin people and we are all glad that the said identity has been restored by this government,” Osaro said.
