Okpebholo Raises 14-Man Panel To Probe Obaseki

…Restores ‘Full Statutory Rights’ Of Oba Of Benin

BENIN – Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has constituted a 14-man State Assets Verification Committee to probe the eight years tenure of his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki.

The panel, headed by a retired Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, would be inaugurated on Tuesday.

This is contained in a state­ment on Sunday by the gover­nor’s media aide, Fred Itua.

The statement reads in part. “In furtherance of the gover­nor’s initiative to set the state on the path of development and accountable leadership, the need to set up a State Assets Verifica­tion Committee becomes very imperative.

“Despite repeated calls for a more holistic database of the assets and liabilities of the previ­ous administration, the Godwin Obaseki-led government came up with very scanty and limited assets and liabilities of the state.

“In line with the governor’s campaign promise to ensure probity, accountability and trans­parency in government, and to deepen the governance process, a committee made up of respect­ed sons and daughters from Edo State has to be constituted”.

Other members of the com­mittee are Bar. Anslem Ojezua, Deputy Chairman; Frank Osu­muede Edebor, Secretary, while Prince Kassim Afegbua, Hon. Pat­rick Ikhariale, Mr. Taiwo Akerele, Hon. Patrick Idiake, and Hon. Rasaq Bello-Osagie are members.

Also to serve in the panel as members are Mr. Fredrick Unopah, Mrs. Abdallah Euge­nia, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon, Pharm. Kenny Okojie, Mrs. Lynd­sey Tes-Sorae, and Hon. Abass Braimoh.

Okpebholo Restores ‘Full Statutory Rights’ Of Oba Of Benin

Meanwhile, in a bid to further right the alleged wrongs of the immediate-past administration and foster cordial relations be­tween the government and the people, the Edo State governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has restored the full statutory rights of the Benin monarch over the contentious issue of the owner­ship of ancient artefacts looted from the palace of the Oba of Be­nin during the 1897 Benin Massa­cre by the British colonial forces.

Also, the state government is withdrawing the letter revoking the concession of the Oba Ak­enzua II Cultural Centre issued by the last administration to be used as a motor park.

“This administration is re­storing the centre to a suitable condition for its original purpose.

“This administration also hereby abolishes the new tradi­tional councils in Edo South, cre­ated by the last administration.”

Accordingly, Governor Ok­pebholo has restored the statu­tory financial entitlements of the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) and has ordered that the status quo before the creation of the now abolished councils be maintained.

The Okpebholo administra­tion is backing the initial plan of the state government to build the Benin Royal Museum that will house the returned artefacts and is distancing itself from the Mu­seum of West Africa Art (MOWA) which the previous administra­tion fronted as the museum to hold the returned Benin artefacts.

The Federal Government has also issued a gazette for the recog­nition of ownership and custody of the repatriated Benin artefacts to Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II. This was done through a govern­ment Notice No.25 in the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Ga­zette No.57, Volume 110.

“Governor Okpebholo re­spects the rights and privileges of the traditional ruler of Benin Kingdom, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare II, and pledges the support of his admin­istration to ensure the monarch plays his role as the custodian of the rich cultural heritage of the Benin people.

“It is in recognition of this that the administration of Governor Okpebholo shall support the deci­sion of the Federal Government to uphold the Oba of Benin as the exclusive owner of the returned Benin artefacts that were looted by the British colonial forces during the Benin Massacre of 1897.

“The Oba of Benin, as the fa­ther of all Benin people, is the sole custodian of the customs and tra­ditions of the Benin people and my administration respects cus­toms and traditions in the land and hereby restores the statutory rights of the Oba of Benin as the true custodian of the returned Benin artefacts.”

Governor Okpebholo said his administration is committed and will refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of the Benin Traditional Council.

“The governor is using his constitutional powers and the re­spect for traditional institutions and the revered Oba of Benin to restore all other statutory rights of the monarch not mentioned hereof.”