God Almighty, by whose infinite mercies and grace, led our forebears from the devastating civil war of the then Central Ijaw Nation in about 1100 AD and sojourned them through the thick and thin of the coastal Niger Delta difficult terrain with successive traditional leaderships to where we now find ourselves – known and called Finima.

Finima, also being referred to as Juju town by the early Portuguese and European explorers; amidst its heavily weighted and acclaimed deity and rituals; yet, with divine and Godly consciousness of its leadership, was able to provide an asylum to protect the early Christian missionaries of the Niger Delta against persecution. Thus, providing an open door for the word of God to diffuse into nooks and crannies of Kingdoms in the nation of Nigeria. This is part of our heritage and not just a mere hearsay. The Anglican Community in Bonny Kingdom is a living testimonial of this reality.

Therefore, as a Community and people that are now enlightened in respect of our present level of development; the conduct of our affairs in the administration of the Buoye Omuso Brown Group of Houses and Finima in general shall continue to lean and rely on the Almightiness of the God of heaven and earth.

There were two significant events last year – 2021 amongst others; that I wish to bring to the fore for the purpose of this remember-able day. First, being the formal introduction of SCD JV (Saipem, Chiyoda and Daewoo Joint Venture) to the Buoye Omuso Brown House of Finima by NLNG on the 5th day of February, 2021 as their Landlord. We are the only Community and Chieftaincy family in the Kingdom and Local Government Area that had such obligatory engagement by reason of our statutory and corporate relationship with NLNG as tenant.

Secondly, on the 10th day of June 2021, we, as a community, and as landlord, embarked on a peaceful protest against our tenant – NLNG because of their gross denial of our inalienable rights as their Host Community. Suddenly, we had an unwarranted and unprovoked gruesome attack by some thugs and hoodlums from Bonny Town led by one Dagogo Jumbo (alias Opumingi), Emmanuel Finecountry and Sonny Manilla-Pepple; amidst this nonviolent protest as witnessed by the Security community on the Island and captured on all media platforms present.

They attacked and inflicted serious bodily injuries on our youths, men, women and children, destroyed properties and looted shops, as well as burnt the Finima Youth Congress (FYC) bus in Finima. All these were captured on video and as reported in the Media. Unfortunately, the leaders of the attack claimed to have been sent by the Amanyanabo of Bonny to stop our protest in Finima against NLNG.

Did Finima Community break the law of the land by expressing her grievance through a legitimate protest on her soil?

Did the Bonny Traditional Institution give NLNG any portion of the land on which it occupies today as well as the land on which the Train 7 project is to be built on?

What wrong did the good and peace-loving people of Finima commit by embarking on a peaceful protest against her tenant – NLNG?

It is on record that it was the leadership of the Buoye Omuso (Brown) House of Finima that NNPC – the forerunner and majority shareholder of NLNG – met for lease of land and relocation of the entire community from its ancestral home in Old Finima to create room for the NLNG plant.

By the statements of the leaders of the attackers, our fears are now confirmed that the Bonny Traditional Institution is indeed fighting a proxy war on behalf of NLNG to cow the Finima people. We, therefore, make bold to say that these antics cannot fly nor prevail, not yesterday, not today and not even in the future; because no man can give what he does not have, neither can he take what is not his. It is not possible to live in someone’s house and pay rent and dues to their neighbour.

Surprisingly, till date no body or group or institution or government parastatal in the Kingdom or Local Government Area has condemned that insurrection against the Finima people.

Following this deliberate, unprovoked and unwarranted attack on our youth, women and children, as well as pointless destruction of properties, it is now very glaring that we cannot get succour and protection rather than disdain and subversion from our brotherhood in the neighborhood. Therefore, as a people now being endangered, we would look out for allies for help and protection across and around our bay to ensure the sustainability of our survival.  

In this day of remembrance, we wish to emphatically reiterate that our contention with NLNG has nothing to do with Kingdom’s tradition and/or Chieftaincy family issues. It is simply a statutory issue, which is the LAW of Nigeria regarding Host Community and its compliance thereof.

Finima will not rest until Nigeria LNG is made to be loosened from the claws of the traditional politics of Bonny Kingdom and realize her statutory obligations, as well as respects, obeys and complies with the Nigerian Local Content Law and its Community Content Guidelines (CCG).

May we state that this day of remembrance is very key to us, as it has gone down the annals of history, because of the attendant bodily injuries, destruction of properties and by extension undermining the peace and unity of the Buoye Brown Major House and Finima Community at large.

Finally, I hereby salute the stern resolve of vast majority members of the Buoye Omuso Brown Major House, Attoni House and Tobin House and the entire Finima Community to stand for the truth and our God-given right.

The Never Again Solemn Assembly done by the Finima people on the 10th day of June 2022 is in remembrance of the unexpected, unprovoked and unwanted attack from our Bonny brothers in the neighborhood, who claimed to have been sent by the Bonny Traditional Institution.

A day it became obvious to us as Finima people and the Buoye Omuso Brown Major House in particular, that there is indeed an acute envy of our heritage in the neighborhood.

A day we realized that nothing stops us from strengthening our defense strategy and capabilities as a community and people against an obviously envious neighborhood to ensure the sustainability of our survival.

Such a remembrance crusade by a community speaks volumes, as it reinforces our solemn resolve never to allow a repeat of the event of 10th June, 2021 on Finima soil.

Never Again.!!!

Long Live Buoye Omuso Brown Major House!

Long Live Finima Community!!

Long Live Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!