The Tobin Chieftaincy House of Bonny Kingdom has commended the Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, David Irimagha for his efforts at resolving the impasse between the Jumbo and Brown Chieftaincy Houses of Bonny Kingdom over the land allocated to Julius Berger Nigeria (JBN) Limited to use as a temporary site for the Bonny-Bodo Road project.

They, however, noted that the land in question actually has Tobin and Attoni Houses as joint owners with Brown House and as such the recent meeting convoked by him should have had representatives from the Tobin and Attoni Houses.

The Chairman of the Ogbobiri Asa-Awo (senior youths) of Tobin House, Agomienye Tobin told Kristina Reports in Port Harcourt that the move by the Bonny LGA Chairman, David Irimagha was “a step in the right direction and will eventually achieve the needed peace for development to take place in our community.”

“But what we are saying is that the said land was given to the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple, by the three houses – Tobin, Brown and Attoni Houses. So, he ought to have also called us to be part of that meeting”.

He further disclosed that “the Workers Camp land belonged to Finima Community comprising Attoni, Brown and Tobin Houses. It is Finima land not only Brown land. So, they should deal with the owners not just one set of people”.

Also speaking, a member of the Bonny Kingdom Local Content Mentoring Committee, Dagogo Tobin praised the Bonny LGA boss for calling both houses together to resolve the issue and douse the tension.

He noted, however, that it would convey a wrong perception that the said land belonged to only Brown House, when it was actually given to His Majesty by the three houses.

He called on Irimagha to ensure all stakeholders were carried along in future discussions

Kristina Reports reliably learnt that the said land, which lies adjacent to the Willbros junction in Bonny Town, was allegedly obtained by the late former Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Captain Secondus Pepple, Perekule X, who was uncle and predecessor to the current monarch.

Kristina Reports was unable to ascertain how the late monarch obtained it whether by purchase or consent of the owners.

He later allocated it to the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), and other individuals.

Kristina Reports further learnt that the current King of Bonny Kingdom recently allocated the land to JBN for use as a temporary site for the Bonny-Bodo Road project.

On his part, the Special Adviser on Security to the Chairman of Bonny LGA, Idamina Tobin, in an interview with Kristina Reports in Port Harcourt, hailed the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Edward William Dappa Pepple III, Perekule XI, CON, and the Chairman of Bonny LGA, David Irimagha, for their exemplary initiatives to ensure that peace reigned in the area and development projects went on without any disturbances.

“You can see that they are making very commendable efforts to achieve peace in the area. I praise the King, I praise the Chairman. They are doing very well. Without peace we cannot achieve the development we need in the area”.

“It was a very commendable step to call both houses together, even though they are not the only houses that own the land, it was commendable. I praise him for doing that. I also thank the Amanyanabo for setting up the Bonny-Bodo Road Committee, the Local Content Committee, the FTO Committee, among others. All these are to ensure that Bonny Kingdom gets what it deserves in all the projects going on in the area”.

But some youths said to be from Jumbo and Brown Houses soon engaged themselves in fiasco that almost cost the lives of some of them.

In view of the escalating situation, the Bonny LGA Chairman, David Irimagha called for a meeting between representatives of both houses in his office last week where after deliberations, a consensus was reached to let peace reign and for the warring factions to sheathe their swords.

Kristina Reports was told that the meeting had the heads of the various security agencies in attendance to observe the proceedings.