Pre And Post Treaty With The British Government ON 26, MARCH 1892
PRE 1892 TREATY

Three Europeans visited Oba Ovonramwen in 1889 on genuine trade mission. They were well received and there was happiness on both sides.

Mac Taggarts came to Benin City in 1893 even with arms, though, he claimed that he was misdirected from where he wanted to go and there was no incidence despite this unprovoked act of aggression on the part of the British citizen. He was in the service of the Royal Niger Company of Sir Taubman Goldie.

One salient point to note is that while all other parts of the area now known as Nigeria were under the British colonial rule, Edo Kingdom and indeed the present Edo State as presently constituted west independent under the Oba of Benin. This fact angered the protectorate Officers to the extent that they made the following statement as recorded by Geary W.N.M (1965: 114) “It is an injury to the prestige of the Protectorate, not to be able to assert its authority within its own limits’’ (which according to them included Benin Kingdom or country)”.

From the research conducted. Achievers Global Resources is constrained to differ from the age long held view that Oba Ovonramwen did not understand the content of the 1892 treaty reproduced hereunder. The Kings of Benin though humans at birth and growth stages but immediately they are coroneted they assumed super intelligence in issues of life generally and become the colossus of knowledge -- this is the Lord’s doing.

Agreements are not new to the Kings of Benin and they were not taught how to make agreement by the whites. The mode may differ (written or oral). The Oba knew that every valid agreement or contract is to benefit the parties involved in the give and take situation.

To express the very clear intension of the Oba and his hospitality, he organized wrestling competition for the entertainment of Captain H.L Gallwey, the Commissioner and Vice-Consul of the Benin District of the Oil River Protectorate and his entourage before the so call agreement was to be signed.

According to Gallwey (who did not know that he was dealing with a store of knowledge) “the King and Chief men were more than anxious to sign the treaty”. Why was the Oba willing to sign the treaty? It would not be far from the axiom that Benin or Edo is the centre of the world and seeing these people from thousands of miles away in search of what will sustain them, the Oba was willing to assist them. When the content of the treaty was read (remember his super intelligence at his coronation), he was taken aback and in the words of the same Gallwey “the Oba refused to touch the pen though he allowed his chiefs to do so and his name to be used”. Captain Gallwey could not account for the reason the Oba (who according to him was more than anxious to endorse the agreement) suddenly refused to sign the agreement. The Oba could not sign the treaty as its content was offensive to gentle ears, a breach of friendship, imperialist threat, attempt to make him a puppet to the Whiteman and deprivation of freedom. In shot the content of the teaty is as bad as bad can be. The Treaty is reproduced below:

TREATY WITH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ON 26, MARCH 1892

According to Great Britain by Ling Roth, the contents of the treaty were as follows

ARTICLE I
Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, Express of India, in compliance with the request of the King of Benin,, hereby undertakes to extend to him, and to the territory under his authority and jurisdiction, her gracious favour and protection.

ARTICLE II
The King of Benin agrees and promises to refrain from entering into any Correspondence,, Agreement, or Treaty with any foreign nation or power, except with the knowledge and sanction of Her Britannic Majesty’s Government.

ARTICLE III
It is agreed that full and exclusive jurisdiction, Civil and Criminal, over British subjects and their property in the territory of Benin, is reserved to Her Britannic Majesty, to be exercised by such Consular or other; officers, as Her Majesty shall appoint for that purpose.
The same jurisdiction is likewise reserved to Her Majesty in the said territory of Benin over foreign subjects enjoying British protection, who shall be deemed to be included in the expression ‘British Subject throughout this Treaty.

ARTICLE IV
All disputes between the King of Benin and other kings and chiefs or between him and British or foreign traders, or between the aforesaid King and neighbouring tribes which cannot be settled amicably between the two parties, shall be submitted to the British consular or other officers appointed by Her Majesty to exercise   jurisdiction in the Benin territories for arbitration and decision, or for arrangement

ARTICLE V
The King of Benin hereby engages to assist the British Consular or other officers in the execution of such duties as may be assigned to them; and, further, to act upon their advice in matters relating to the administration of justice, the development of the resources of the country, the interests of commerce, or in any other matter in relation to order, and government, and the general progress of Civilization.

ARTICLE VI
The subjects and citizens of all countries may freely carry on trade in every part of the territories of the King, Party hereto, and may have houses and factories therein.

ARTICLE VII
All ministries of the Christian religion shall be permitted to reside and exercise their calling within the territories of the aforesaid King, who thereby guarantees to them full protection.
All forms of religious worship and religious ordinances may be exercised within the territories of the aforesaid King, and no hindrance shall be offered thereto.

ARTICLE VIII
If any vessels should be wrecked within the Benin territories, the King will give all the assistance in his power, will secure them from plunder, and also recover and deliver to the owners or agents all the property which can be saved
If there are no such owners or agents on the spot, then the said property shall be delivered to the British Consular or other Officer.

The King further engages to do all in his power to protect the persons and property of the Officers, Crew, and others on board such wrecked vessel.

All claims for salvage dues in such cases shall, if disputed, be referred to the British Consular or other Officer for arbitration and decision.

ARTICLE IX
This Treaty shall come into operation, so far as may be practicable, from the date of its signature.
Done in triplicate at Benin City, this 26th day of March, 1892.

By

(Signed) OVERAMI  X  KING

Mark

H.L. GALLWEY, Deputy Commissioner and vice Consul, Benin District, Oil Rivers Protectorate.

	H.HALY HUTTON
Witnesses (Signed)	ALLAN H.HANLY
	JOHN H. SWAINSON

I hereby certify that I have interpreted the full purpose of this Treaty to the King, and that he clearly understands the nature of the content and the meaning thereof,

His
(Signed) AJAE	X     INTERPRETER
		Mark

POST 1892 TREATY
From about 5pm on the 26 March 1892 when the Oba saw that the British Officials were less than gentlemen and people not to be trusted became cautious with them.

The sum of all the activities was that the Oba who was the epitome of honesty (Africans did not need written documents to discharge their obligations) saw the Whiteman as a cheat, deceiver, extortioner and a group of people to be associated with care. In all the events prior to his exile to Calabar the Oba exercised caution.

SOME IGNORED ADVICE TO ACTING CONSUL-GENERAL JAMES PHILIPS NOT TO VISIT THE OBA DURING HIS FESTIVAL
Achievers Global Resources aim is not judgmental but to examine the events which caused a turning point in the ancient Kingdom of Benin in West Africa and we dare say the world at large because “Edorisiagbon” (Benin the centre of the world politically) - Anyone is free to hold whatever opinion one likes on what Benin really is, but what is the eternal truth remains that assertion of our ancestors remain valid. This played out in the events that befell the main actors (Philips and Moor) who dared to alter scared thing of the Benins.

Those who knew Benin well and her system of administration (including the British London office) did not approve of Philip’s ego trip which turned o to be suicidal.

The pieces of advice to Philip as reproduced here are from books authored by mostly Europeans so that we may not be accused of bias in the matter under reference.

From the Book: The Benin Massacre we found the following:

1. I had said… about a month previous to this Philips, and had bet him the large sum of £1 that we should not reach Benin City (p .63).

2. Chief Dore (a trusted political agent) before he left us (Philip and him team) told us the Benin men meant to stop our getting to Benin City and tried to persuade Philips not to go on, but as I have said before, all the Jakris fear Benin City men so much that we thought nothing of his advice or warning (P.70).

In another occasion Chief Dore advised Philip to heed the Oba’ s advice not to go to Benin City immediately His words “It would be certain death to go” (P. 115).

Attesting to the gallantry and resoluteness of the Oba’s warriors whom Philips and his men had previously regarded as men with low brains, they confessed, “Things were far too serious to admit of doubting for a moment the courage of the enemy (the Benin Warriors) in the bush or their skill as bushmen (Benin the city of Blood P.30) and the author of the Benin massacre added” As the square advanced it was met with a tremendously hot fire from both sides (P 181)

OBA OVONRAMWEN'S CONCESSIONS IGNORED ACTING CONSUL- GENERAL JAMES PHILIPS
That Oba Ovonramwen could not receive Philips and his team should not be seen as abnormal. Britain is a monarchy and as such Philips could not have claimed to be ignorant of the respect that befits monarch.

Nevertheless, in every established system there is always time set aside ‘for retreat or leave within a period. The very time of Philips’ so call visit coincided with the time of retreat of the Oba at which time he observes his traditional annual festival for tranquility, peace and progress of his kingdom. Obviously at that period, the Oba requires complete concentration to commune with the ancestors and perform all necessary sacrifices as the custodian of his subject’s religion and records.

The visitor (Philips) was told in plain language that the Oba will be willing to receive visitors sometime in the future after the festival and not immediately..

Philips refused to understand no matter how most tellingly the message was conveyed. Most people do not know that Oba Ovonramwen did ah within his royal powers to try to avoid the trouble brought by the Acting Consul-General, Philips: Due to the insistence of Philips to insult the tradition of Benin so as to find an excuse to depose the articulate Oba which has been the real intension for the so called visit, decided to give danger a wide berth and gave the following gracious concessions: “The name of the local boy (messenger) whom (Philips) sent to the Oba and feedback sent to the Acting Consul-General (Philips) is Ayegbauker, Jakri (Itsekiri) boy. The message was that the Oba will receive the Acting Consul General and one big Jakri (Itsekiri) chief only”. But they were advised to wait for just two days instead of about few months originally set by the palace. This was a concession which the legal practitioners, would say was made under undue influence or duress the Oba to avert the imminent trouble of the Whiteman.

What was Philips reply (which was of course not sent to the Oba)? That he has no time to be lost and cannot wait for even one day with the excuse that he had much work to do elsewhere in the protectorate. Why could he not go to such other places and come back later to the Obo Herein exposes his hypocrisy, always falsely making himself to appeal virtuous while labouring under false impression.

Though the Oba conceded to receive the Acting Consul-General and one big Itsekiri Chief in two days time; Philips refused to observe social code or follow protocol. He was determined to deliberately provoke the Oba, he decided to go on that same day with a delegation made up of the following: 6 European Officers of the Protectorate, Consul-General Chief Clerk, Officers, servants and about 250 carriers and Jakris of the local tribe and Kroo boys.

We should remember that the Oba had granted concession for just one big Itsekiri Chief and the Acting Consul-General in the next two day (probably to arrange for convenient time for the visit) while Phillip decided to go that same day and with almost 400 people to a host who had made contingency provision for just two people. His attempt convince one of the Itsekiri’s big Chiefs who was described as trustworthy native Political Agent (Chief Dore) met with brick walls he advised Philips to heed the Oba’s advice not to go immediately
Chief Dore’s words ‘it would he certain death to go” Geary, W.N.M (1965:1 14) Philips went ahead with his large crowd (not army as Europeans would say) and not only did he lose his life but he also destroyed the souls of many because of his inordinate ambition events later revealed.

THE TRIAL OF THE OBA, HIS CHIEFS AND HIS EXILE TO CALABAR BY CONSUL-GENERAL SIR RALPH W.R. MOOR kCMG IN SEPTEMBER 1897

INTRODUCTION
That the Oba was innocent of the fabricated charges against him was beyond doubt even to the usurpers. They were aware that Philips and his team undertook a dangerous trip setting at naught wise counsel and without the approval of their home government

The primary aim of the British Officers (Moor and Philips) was to depose the Oba, cause suffering to the King and his people for the advantage of the Whiteman. British Officials lightly esteemed the Oba’s natural wit and mental capacity and thought that they could trick him into accepting a proposal to take him and two or three other chiefs and their wives to visit Calabar, Lagos and Yoruba country, to learn how to administer the people of Benin based on the dictates of the British government. It was a failed tactical way to depose the Oba.

That the British Officials underrated the power of reasoning of the Oba became clear with such slick offer, a royalty who knew a trick worth two of theirs. Of course, the Oba (a royalty with superb intelligence) could not trust them and therefore rejected the Greek gift.
Bradbury,R.E. (1973:85-86), Egharevba J.U. (1968) and Igbafe, P.A (1979:95), all observed that the Oba being a prudent man fled from his palace about the 14th  of February 1897 as the British troops approached Benin City. The Oba they stressed, remained in hiding in various places notably Obadan, Uhi, Omolua- Igbanke, Urhonigbe and Ojumo’s village until he decided to give up himself, based on the persuasion of some of his chiefs who had made peace with the British officials in August 1897.

His trial began on Wednesday, 1st of September 1897 with the insulting offer of taking the Oba to various places for training in the act of administration and governance. The Oba decided to have a retreat for self communion and delayed to appear for further discussion on the subject matter.

The Consul-General, Moor actually exhibited blind and naked ignorance of the well grounded administrative machinery of Benin Kingdom to have offered to train the King of Benin.

The Heart of the Matter
The trial which was termed meeting with the King and Chiefs of Benin City was held on 1st 4pm,  2nd  at 9.30am, 3rd  at 4.30pm, 8th and 9th  at 4pm September 1897.  Without having a look into the details of the case, one can .only imagine the stress on the Oba and his Chiefs for such enquiry taking up to five full days.

It is only fair that we present what transpired in, the court and reproduce as much as possible the Consul-General’s meetings of September 1897 in his own hand writing as preserved in the National Archives, .Ibadan, Nigeria. See Appendices 2-4.

On the first day, we found the following records: at the Consular Court Benin City by 4pm. Those present were: Sir. Ralph W.R. Moor,
(KCMG Commissioner and Consul-General). Capt. E.P.S. Roupell (Acting Political Resident) Capt. C.H.P. Carter (Officer Commanding Troops) King Overami - Native Council (9 members) 61 Chiefs of Benin City and Territories.

According to Moor, “the Whiteman has no palaver with King and Chiefs because they fought for their country and lost. Every man that fights for his country is right. But the Whiteman has got a palaver with the king because when messengers were sent to him without arms he made arrangement and murdered them”.
It requires but a little intellect to grasp from this onset the way the mind of the prosecutor and judge in this matter was going. There was no doubt in the charge that the Oba made arrangement to murder the Whiteman. Sir Ralph Moor showed insincerity from his own words thus

“I am not going to talk this palaver in the Whiteman fashion but I am going to talk it in the native fashion and we are going to settle by your own custom and law”.

This pledge he made on the first day was never carried out. Rather, not only did he preside over the proceedings, he was at the same time the prosecutor. There was no Benin native on the bench. How did he take the palaver (case) in native fashion? The King was not allowed to say a word on that first day. The Consul-General ordered that he should not talk.

The chiefs maintained that for the past six years that the Whiteman took Chief Nana that the Chiefs of Benin have been taking precautionary measures to protect their King without being necessarily directed by the King himself. According to them, the King directed that the Benins should not have palaver with the Whiteman. Four Chiefs were prosecuted on that first day (1st September 1897), before the adjournment of the meeting to the following day. The result was that the Consular-General took all of them prisoners the trial continued on 2nd and 3rd September 1897.

Sir Ralph Moor on the 3rd of September ordered for the execution of the two chiefs out of the four chiefs he took prisoners on 1st September directed that the execution should take place at the King’s Square Benin City by 8.00am Saturday 4th September 1897. He also threatened

“King Overami had better at once hold a meeting with his chiefs to see how they were going to make up their minds to bring Ologbosheri here. I do not say this as a threat but I say it as an honest fact that I hold the lives of the king and four chiefs whom I will choose for the crime of Ologbosheri until you brought him to pay The penalty of his, crime “.

The above order was not an easy one to accomplish taking note of the events and the time constraint.

Without enquiry for the reason, the Oba could not appear for further discussion, Moor ordered that the Oba be brought before him.

According to Igbafe, P.A (1979:126), the Oba and his Chiefs of Benin were assembled at the Consular Court on 7th September 1897. He further observed that before the trial began, Sir Ralph Moor made the following public declaration: “Now this is the Whiteman’s country. There is only one King in the country and that is the Whiteman. Overami is no longer King of this country- the Whiteman is the only man who is King in the country and to him only service is due”.

It is generally said that absolutely power corrupts absolutely. To prove his might that the Oba was no longer King and without giving him fair hearing, Moor demanded that the Oba make obeisance to him before the general public. What a sacrilege, unheard-of, unconcealed Believe or not, the Oba could have refused and immediately invoke the ancestors for his defense though he was under stress, the Oba maintained a mental balance. He appreciated that would have been an ill wind that might cause more destruction and desolation on the part of the whites who had already suffered some horrible loss fault. For the love and comfort of his subjects and humanity, Oba Ovonramwen accepted to drink the cup of humiliation.

Moor was not satisfied; he thereafter ordered for the Oba’s banishment to Calabar and added that the Oba would never again be allowed to return to Benin. The Oba was subsequently debased and exiled to Calabar in chains and most of his loyal chiefs executed with the exception of Chief Ologboshere. He was later captured at Okemue on the 27th of May 1899, trailed and hanged on 27th June 1899 according Jacob Egharevba.