IBADAN— THE controversy between the Oba of Benin and the Ooni of Ife, on the origin of Yoruba progenitor, Oduduwa yesterday re-echoed in Ibadan at an international symposium on Nigeria cultural heritage with retired Supreme Court justice, Justice Bola Babalakin saying the final resting place of Benin monarchs is Ile-Ife. Justice Babalakin speaking as Chairman of the international symposium entitled “the preservation and restoration of Nigeria's Cultural heritage”, the Museum of Unity Ibadan, said that Oduduwa was not from Benin.
According to him,”there is a sacred portion in Ile-Ife reserved for burying Benin kings, if they so desired.”
“A nation cannot exist without cultural heritage. It can not be proud of it existence without preservation of its Cultural Arts –– things in her national museums.”
“Let me mention a few peculiarities to the Yoruba race. All Yorubas regard Ile-Ife as their origin.i.e place from which your existence starts and where your spirit will rest after your demise.”
“Its existence is treated with sacred approach; that is why during the inter–tribal wars, General Ibikunle instructed General Ogunmola that Ile-Ife, the origin of the Yoruba should not be sacked.”
“It is this scared city that in modern times engaged in war with one of its components because of greed and lack of contentment on all parties to the contest”. Contentment must be practiced as violine if this country must progress.”
“Another weapon that will foster progress in our community is dialogue, when you succeed to bring your adversary to a conference table when you know the circumstances, blame may be twined to pity”.
The Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadan land, Chief Michael Okumola who reeled out several historical facts supported the position of Justice Babalakin on the place of Oduduwa who he described as the first King in Yoruba land.
In his keynote address of the symposium, the Director-General National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Dr. Omotoso Eluyemi told the gathering that some Nigerian Artefacts carted away to foreign land have been retrieved.
Dr. Eluyemi in the address read on his behalf by the Commission's Director in charge of Educational service and Training, Mrs. Anthonia Fatusi said “You are quite aware that, in the recent past, few of our museum galleries were broken into and priceless artifacts carted away by unknown hands. However, I’m happy to inform this gathering that, some of these artifacts were retrieved from foreign countries in the course of my official trips abroad. We plan to exhibit them for public view very soon”.
“It is to be noted that, some sites are now being declared "world Heritage sites; such as Sukur escarpment in Adamawa State and Osun-Grove in Osogbo, Osun State. They belong to all of us being a shared legacy. It is our common responsibility to preserve them for future generation”, he said.
In his welcome address, the Curator of National Museum, Ibadan, Mr. Jide Famuyiwa said “without any equivocation, this collection represents an immense resource potential for the realization of the aims and objectives of the National Policy on Education in Nigeria. For instance, the exhibitions in our museum's galleries portray spirit of national consciousness and national unity”.
According to him, “The museum collections cut across various culture areas and geo-political zones of the country. Awareness of other people’s culture is cultivated in the scholars through the objects from areas other than their environment”.
