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The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Monday Okpebholo, has congratulated the Benin monarch, Oba Ewuare ll on the return of 39 stolen artifacts from Sweden.
Okpebholo, in a statement on Friday recalled that those he termed as colonial plunderers carted the artifacts away 127 years ago.
The APC candidate said he was excited by the news of the return of the artifacts, but explained that, like millions of Nigerians, he was not surprised by the development “because of how you have redefined the African cultural heritage both as a diplomat and as a royal father.”
He took a swipe at all those “who have used their exalted offices to undermine the value of the Benin monarchy by infringing on the way of the return of the stolen artifacts to the palace of the great Benin Kingdom, where they truly belong.”
He reassured the Benin monarch, Oba Ewuare ll, and the traditional institution across the state, that: “My team and I shall continue to harness the wealth of experience from the traditional institution, especially the Palace of the Oba of Benin in administering the good people of Edo State, when voted into office as governor of the state. We shall stay on the path of truth and support the Benin monarchy to achieve the collective gains for the people of the state.”
The statement read: “I join millions of Nigerians to congratulate you sir, our father and Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin; Oba Ewuare II, and the entire Benin Kingdom on the return of 39 artifacts by the Swedish Government.
This is another evidence that your reign as the Oba of Benin is remarkably a turning point in the history of the great Benin Kingdom.”
