President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday, expressed his full support in protecting the stolen Benin artefacts, retrieved in different countries across the world.
The President made this pledge while receiving the Oba of Benin, Omo Nakba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Ewuare II, and other traditional leaders from Edo kingdom, at the State House Abuja, on Friday, July 14, 2023.
Premium Politics reported on Friday, that President Tinubu met the royal father at the State House, Aso Rock, Abuja, in a meeting in which the intention was not revealed to anybody, as at the time of filing the report.
Speaking during the meeting, President Tinubu who congratulated the paramount ruler for intensifying efforts in retrieving the stolen artefacts, commended the efforts of the traditional ruler in building a befitting museum to achieve the rich history and traditions of Benin kingdom, assured that the support of his administration for the Benin Royal Council, in establishing a museum to house the artefacts.
“They are in protective custody. It is a matter of history, over a hundred years. We will work on the museum,” President Tinubu said.
Speaking further, President Tinubu informed the royal council that the federal government was undertaking an audit of its infrastructure projects, promising to ensure that roads in Edo are considered in line with a request made by the traditional ruler.
While speaking during the visit, Oba Ewuare II commended the president for the giant strides of his administration within its first weeks, nothing he had predicted his capability before he assumed power.
“We’ve predicted that you would hit the ground running, and you have done so even faster than we thought,” the royal father said.
The royal father who acknowledged that the steps taken by the president since his inauguration had renewed the hope of Nigerians and put the country on the path to progress and development, implored Tinubu to help the Benin Palace in ensuring that the artefacts returned were not stolen or taken over from the Benin Royal House.
(NAN)
