By Lucky Isibor
Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September, 21 Edo State governorship election, Asuerimen Ighodalo (Esq) has stated that all returned looted Benin artefacts must return to the Palace of the Oba of Benin where they were looted before, noting that anything contrary to that is an affront on natural justice.
Ighodalo stated this while addressing Edo indigenes in Hamburg, Germany last Friday, 28 June in continuation of his engagements with Edo Diaspora in Europe. He added that the issue of the returning prrtifacts is simple as they must go back to the Oba Palace of the Benin Monarch where they were looted.
“As a lawyer, I know that if my goods were stolen, no matter how long it took to find the goods, any day they’re found, they belong to me. The issue of artefacts is simple. They were looted from the Palace and so to the Palace they must go back to. Beside, President Muhammadu Buhari settled the issue through a declaration before he left office”, Ighodalo said.
The PDP governorship candidate assured Edo people in Germany that his vision is to build on what previous administrations in the state had done and take the state to where it should be by executing the programme contained in his manifestos, “Pathway to Prosperity for All”, which was unveiled earlier last week. He vowed to tackle insecurity and ensure law and order to attract investments to the state.
“We must know who we are in Edo State. Our state has produced some very famous individuals in the past who etched their names in national history. The last eight years have witnessed some good developments. We must build on them. We can’t go back to the past. If it happens it will be a shame to each and everyone of us in this hall. I am not a spokesperson for the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki, but I can tell you that the administration has moved Edo State from where it used to be. We can only move forward and not seek to go back. Edo State has changed. It is time to solidify the reforms that the Obaseki administration has achieved.
“We will work tirelessly to make Edo State a first world sub-national in Nigeria. We are clear in our mind that working through the “Pathway to Prosperity for All ” we can achieve it. The task we set before ourselves is to ensure Edo State is secured. Before the conversation on State Police is concluded, we will make do with what we have. How do people live without law and order? You see impunity everywhere in the country, no, we must set the pace in Edo State. There must be high regard for law and order”.
While noting that Edo State has no reason to lag behind in the comity of states in Nigeria, Ighodalo pointed out that,
“If the rest of Nigeria doesn’t want to change, Edo wants to change. Abuja won’t help us, so we have to help ourselves
“Edo State has no reason whatsoever not to be in the league of a first world sub-national in Nigeria. We have people all over the world, who can make it happen. That’s why I am not particularly happy with people who mouth the “home boy” slogan. It makes no sense. Edo is blessed with people who are all over the world doing great things and so to say that you can only indicate willingness to contribute positively to the growth of your state if only you lived all your life in your community makes no sense.”
The engagement with Edo Diaspora Community in Europe ahead of the September election had taken Ighodalo to Reggio Emilia, Italy; Manchester and London in the UK and ended last Saturday night with a similar engagement in Nuremberg, Germany.