21^st January 1982

There are three autonomous Chieftaincy Houses in Finima namely Brown, Tobin and Attoni. The Chiefs of these three Houses are equal. None is under the other, and each of them has a seat and one vote in the Bonny Chiefs Council.

Finima was founded by Torukobo, a direct ancestor of Chief O. S. Tobin. Torukobo begat Waribo who begat Diri, who begat Konibo who begat Awanta. Awanta founded Tobin House and was its first Chief. He was a very powerful juju priest and so troubled the early European traders that they tricked him and deported him. He was succeeded by his son, Ijumangibo Tobin, who was in turn succeed by Abraham Sunday Tobin and so on to the present Chief Sunday Owunabo Tobin.

One of the followers of Torukobo who came with him to Finima was Sono. Sono bought Onyeasolam who brought Nwulu (Wolu) and his son, Ukwu from Okrika to Finima. Ukwu was renamed Buo. Buo begat Buo-Ogbulu, Taria, Ofo, Omuso and Bibiorubo. Omuso, who was the youngest son was sold into slavery by his elder brothers. While he was on the slave ship, he saw King Fubara who was visiting the Captain in company of Adango (Hart). He called out to them and was redeemed who handed him over to Hart to care for. The King gave two slaves in exchange of the young Omuso.

Omuso grew up in the Hart House and on the orders of the King and returned to Finima under the protection of Chief Hart, where he founded the Brown House. Following this incidence of history, the Chief of Brown House is always presented to the Chiefs Council for recognition by the Chiefs of Hart House, whereas the Chiefs of Tobin House and Attoni House come direct to the Chiefs Council for recognition.    

Awanta and Omuso, the Founders of Tobin and Brown House respectively, are sons of the same mother but different fathers. None is subject to the other.

Attoni House founded by Doghubo, a wealthy son of Amaonye of Sono’s line. Doghubo begat Biokiri, Biokiri begat Biokirinye-Abubo. Biokirinye-Abubo begat Mark Attoni, the last installed Chief. Chief Mark Attoni begat Chief Simeon Attoni, the incumbent Head of the Attoni House.

The idea of demanding N1 or N2 to be paid before any family stages a play in the town square is strange to me. It is not part of Bonny native law and custom of which together with the Chiefs, I am custodian. Neither in Bonny Town, nor in any of the surrounding villages has this ever been the custom. It is only in Brown House that we are observing this new trend.

I have already said the three Houses are autonomous. Finima is part of Bonny and the chiefs of the three houses in Finima each has one seat and one vote in the Bonny Council of Chiefs. If any of them is at all considered subservient it would not be Tobin or Attoni but Brown because their Chief cannot come direct to the Chiefs Council for recognition, but be brought to the Council by the Hart House Chief. Also, by history, Tobin is of the direct line of the Founder of Finima while Brown is of the line of one of the followers of the Founder. However, history and Providence have contrived to bring out Omuso and Awanta from the same womb and therefore their children are cousins. None being a slave to the other nor subject to the control of the other in any way.

His Royal Highness

Captain O. S. Pepple, Perekule X

Amanyanabo of Bonny