A seasoned administrator and management expert, member of the Chartered Institute of Administration (MCIA), Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (ACIPM), and accomplished professional human resources manager, Tammy Martins Brown studied at the prestigious University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management.
A Community Leader in Finima Town in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, Brown has vast experience in the construction, oil and gas industry, where he has worked for almost two decades as a Community Relations Officer, Human Resources Manager, and Nigerian Content Development Coordinator.
In this interview with Kristina Reports Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Godswill Jumbo, he shares his thoughts on issues affecting his home community, Finima, the activities of oil and gas multinationals operating there, and also explores the possibilities of harmonious relations between the companies and the host communities. Enjoy the excerpts:
Let’s meet you, Sir…
My name is Tammy Martins Brown, an indigene of Finima in Bonny Local Government Area. I am a chartered administrator and also a chartered human resources manager. I am the Leader of the Asa-Awo of Buoye Omuso (Brown) Duawari Major House of Finima in Bonny LGA, the landlords of the companies in Bonny LGA. The Asa-Awo is the adult men folk in the community from 40 years and above, invariably coordinating the youths in the community.
What is your take on the recent issues between some companies operating in Bonny Kingdom and their host community over how they treat representatives of the community, how they handle employment processes ad their corporate social responsibilities, among other issues, which have raised a lot of dust?
Well, in terms of companies operating on Finima land in Bonny Local Government Area, I will say it differs from company to company. I grew up here in Finima. I came and met Shell and for a company like Shell, when it comes to their corporate social responsibility, I will say, for me, it is zero, from my observation. I will say the same applies to a company like Mobil. But for NLNG, I won’t say that because today we are benefitting from these social amenities because we have a company like NLNG on the island. Yes, I won’t say they have so much but I think they have tried and I believe in continuous improvement. And they will improve from what I have seen, so far.
In the course of your explanation, you used the term ‘Finima land’. Is ‘Finima land’ distinct from Bonny Kingdom or is it a part of Bonny Kingdom?
We know that Bonny Kingdom is made up of communities and, like I said earlier, Bonny Local Government Area is where these communities are from and so, where these companies are sited – Shell, NLNG, and Mobil – are on Finima land. For instance, it is on record that where NLNG is situated at the moment is the ancestral home of the Finima people. So, that is why I mentioned Finima land, but in Bonny Local Government.
Bonny Kingdom, Bonny Local Government: is there a distinction between them?
Well, if you say Bonny Kingdom and Bonny Local Government, I will say yes, it is Bonny Kingdom.
As in Bonny Kingdom and Bonny Local Government are the same?
Yeah, Bonny Kingdom is Bonny Local Government.
You also said Shell, NLNG and Mobil are located on Finima land. But we understand that the portion of land NLNG is using falls to or is part of the land given to Shell by Jumbo House and Brown House. And a portion of it was what Shell now gave as its counterpart contribution to the establishment of the NLNG plant.
Well, not to the best of my knowledge. Where we have Shell, the Shell (terminal) land is on the Jumbo House and Brown House land. But when it comes to NLNG and Mobil, these are strictly situated on the land of Finima.
Are there documentary evidence to back this up?
Of course.
And the Jumbo people don’t have any issues with it?
They don’t have any issues. We just had the money that was paid by Shell and clearly 30 per cent was paid to the Brown House, 30 per cent was paid to the Jumbo House, and 40 per cent was paid to Bonny Kingdom, which, of course, the Brown House and the Jumbo House was supposed to take part in that 40 per cent. So, that clearly shows that the land is on Brown and Jumbo land.
We understand that the Freedom-To-Operate Committee was set up by the Amanyanabo-in-Council in conjunction with the Bonny Chiefs Council with a mandate to operate on behalf of Bonny Kingdom. As a Finima person and community leader and a stakeholder, what can you say about the performance of the FTO Committee?
Well, when you say FTO Committee, to the best of my knowledge, I don’t think we have any such committee. I stand to be corrected because if we have a committee, the Finima people will be fully aware of such committee. You cannot form a committee to operate on my land without letting me know or be a part of it. So, like I said, I am not sure of any such committee. I am not sure. Though we have heard rumours of such committee, we don’t know how that committee was constituted.
Are you saying this on behalf of your own house, the Brown House, or on behalf of Attoni and Tobin, the three house that make up Finima Community? `
For Finima…
So, none of these three house are aware of this?
You are a journalist, you can check by yourself to confirm that.
The Secretary of the King Perekule Palace is also the Chief and Head of Attoni House. And we know that this committee had been set up before the demise of late Chief Young Awanta Tobin. Are you saying these two Chiefs are not aware of this? Obviously, Brown House does not have a Chief right now…
But we have a Chairman of Council… the Chairman of the Wari-Alapu
You mean the Chairman of the Brown House is not aware?
He is not aware.
You are also sure that Chief Attoni and late Chief Tobin are not aware of this?
Well, like I said, you are a journalist, you can check, and if they are, they can call the members of the committee to see if we have anybody representing Finima, as it were.
Obviously, you are not just learning of this committee recently. From the time, somehow, you started hearing of their name, and, probably, some activities they have been carrying out, has any of these Houses, especially, your own House, the Buoye Omuso (Brown) House taken any steps to query this with the Amanyanabo-in-Council or the Bonny Chiefs Council?
Like I said, we are not aware of this, but, of course if we are aware we might query. But again, even if we don’t, it is obvious that it is not binding on us as direct beneficiaries or the owners of the land. It is not binding on us. I will give you an instance, if you go to the BIRC, as an instance, where we all agreed that we are going to work together, considering the fact that these companies are situated on Finima land; so, we are benefitting 40 per cent, when it comes to employment because we are the owners. Nobody is contesting that, I don’t think that is in doubt. The rest of Bonny is getting 60 per cent out of the employment opportunities. That clearly shows that Finima are the owners of the land where these companies are situated. So, I think that even if we want to consider such FTO (Committee), such could have been agreed, perhaps, put it in black and white, that Brown or Finima or Tobin or Attoni, this is what is due you. And then our other brothers from Bonny, because, of course, there is no way we would say, as our brothers from Bonny, that Finima alone will work there. Or Finima alone will do business there. It is not possible. We all live here in Bonny, and so, if any benefit comes in, we share with our brothers. That would not mean that you will deny the owners of the land. That is why I said we are not aware of such FTO (committee). That is why we cannot query it too because it is not binding on us.
Our findings indicate that the FTO Committee was set up to interface with any company that comes to do business in any part of Bonny Kingdom to ensure that there is a smooth handshake between that community and the company, it could be anywhere; it could be in Oloma, in Burukiri, in Orupiri, in Beresiri, in Finima, or in Agalanga, wherever; when any company is coming to that place, the FTO (Committee) ensures that that company gives employment chances to people from that particular community. It ensures that community entrance fee is paid to that community. And then whatever else that community stands to benefit, it ensures that that is done. When I spoke with the team lead, he gave me instances of Oloma, of Banigo and Orupiri where they interfaced for the communities and ensured everything went smoothly. Are you saying that if any company is coming to Finima – like any community in Finima, either Agalanga, Finita-Sengi, Amariari, or anywhere around Finima community, are you saying that the Brown House or the Tobin or the Attoni House will not allow the FTO to operate?
Well, I don’t think anybody will come to your land and tell you how to operate or how to live with your tenant. Ideally, if a company is coming to Finima, such company is duty-bound to come and know the owners of the land and pay courtesy to the community. I don’t think I would need a caretaker to do that for me. So, the FTO, unless you are saying that we should assign our responsibility to the FTO (Committee) as a caretaker to speak on behalf of the landlords, which is the Finima people. That would not be tolerated and we will resist it with every legal means to ensure that it doesn’t see the light of day.
So, if you say the FTO Committee is unknown to Finima Community, and NLNG and Mobil, and partly, Shell is on Finima land, what is your take on the threat by Bonny Kingdom, through the FTO Committee, that she will chase away companies undermining her economy? Will Finima Community stand with the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom on that?
For the threat by Mr. Richard Abbey, threatening that they will chase away companies undermining her economy. I view it as his personal opinion and doesn’t hold water as he wasn’t speaking for the Finima people. He is from a community here in Bonny, so I should expect him to speak for his community; of course, if he has their mandate, and not to hide under a Committee (FTO). Have you ever seen or heard where someone from outside will come into your compound or your backyard to chase away your tenants? It is impossible, and that will never happen, not today, not tomorrow, and not even in the future.
We will stand with the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom on things that will benefit and move the community forward. I believe that the King, when necessary, will request for such support through the appropriate channel to the leadership of the Buoye Omuso (Brown) Duawari Major House from where it will be cascaded down to the structures of the house.
So, from your perspective, you think this is an anomaly?
It is clearly an anomaly, it is an aberration as I don’t believe I need a third party, FTO (Committee), or anyone to permit the Buoye Omuso (Brown) Duawari Major House or Finima people access to our tenants, the multinational companies and their contractors. The multinational companies are strategically located on our land and, obviously, lands are owned by families, in this particular instance, the Buoye Omuso (Brown) Duawari Major House.
What can be done to correct it? If you have the opportunity to meet with the Amanyanabo of Bonny, obviously, he is the Amanyanabo of the whole Bonny…
That is not in doubt.
What would you advise or suggest to him as a way of correcting this anomaly?
For now, I will say that it is something that we need to sit down, review and consider before we come out with any position. Reason being that we had a situation, like I have mentioned earlier, where we agreed to work together in terms of employment where the Finima people have 40 per cent and the rest of Bonny has 60 per cent. As I speak to you, we are still battling with that. We have situations where companies will come and, before you know it, the Bonny Chiefs Council have filled it up without the consent or without consideration of the Finima people. When it comes in terms of officers’ position, when it comes to businesses, they have already filled it up. And, in our usual manner, because we know that we are not being considered in any form, we are used to fighting to get what we need and I think that that is how we will continue to fight to get what we need through any means legally to ensure that what is due us is due us, without waiting for anybody to help us.
As a Chartered Administrator, Community Relations Officer, Nigerian Content Coordinator and Human Resources Manager, who understands the dynamics of management, have you considered that if the Brown House is to fight for themselves, Tobin is to fight for themselves, Burukiri is to fight for themselves, Epele-Ama is to fight for themselves, Dan-Jumbo is to fight for themselves, don’t you envisage a crisis situation?
Well, I can’t speak for the Jumbos, for Epele-Ama, and the rest of them, I am talking about Finima; that, as Finima people that have 40 per cent on every employment we are going to fight to get what is due us. We are not saying that we want to take 100 per cent. What is due us must be given to us. And we will not go into any agreement that at the end of the day we will be short-changed because we want to see ourselves as one. We will not take that because we have the fears that it has happened before, it has happened severally that we don’t know who to trust. We have discussed, we have dialogued, we have gone into series of meetings with leaders and yet nothing is forthcoming. And so, what do you expect us to do rather than to take it the way we have always done. So, that is our style over the years. And until we see sincerity of purpose in our leaders we will continue to fight to get what is due us.
Currently, the Brown House does not have a Chief, what could be the issue?
I think that is our personal issue and, of course, we have our routine, our processes. As Ibani people, I think it is not new or peculiar to the Brown House. As Ibani people, when you lose your Chief, you need time to put your house together. You need to talk to the stakeholders and when all of those things are done you now follow the process of installing a chief. For now, I think we are in that process and when we are ready we will inform the public
In the absence of a Chief, is the Brown House functioning well?
Perfectly, well. You know that before we lost our Chief we had the Wari-Alapu-in-Council who worked directly with the Chief and in that council we have the chairman, we have the secretary, we have other officers, and other council members. And so, in the absence of the Chief, he (Chairman) is the one heading the House, as it stands now until we have a Chief in the House.
You said you have 40% quota at the Bonny Integrated Recruitment Centre (BIRC) while the rest of Bonny has 60% and you have a challenge even having this 40%. What is the nature of the challenge because incidentally the current Chairman (BIRC) is from Finima?
When I say challenge, I am talking about the constitution of that body, the BIRC. Remember, sometime ago, we used to call it Bonny Kingdom Employment Bureau, and today, it is called the Bonny Integrated Recruitment Centre. Now, from inception, when I say challenge, I am not talking about today. I said from inception, we have been having that challenge. Yes, today, I will say, fairly we are doing well. We have never had it this good to be fair to the current leadership of the Bonny Integrated Recruitment Centre. We have never had this good. And so, for me, I think there is room for improvement.
What areas do you think are areas that need to be improved and what do you advise?
I have no other home apart from Finima and I have been privileged to have grown from my childhood till today other than when I went to university and youth service. So, all my life I have been in Finima. And so, I can stand anywhere to say what I want to say. When we want to be transparent with employment, we have the requisition from the company. And when we have requisition from the company, to show me that you are clear and very transparent, rather than writing a letter to me, I will expect that if you are giving me four out of ten, if I have a copy of the requisition from the company attached to the letter that is coming from BIRC, then it is clear to me. And so, there won’t be doubts of any form.
So you are saying that incorporating the full disclosure component will ensure transparency?
Yeah, like what we got today from Shell is ten, and from the ten, your share is four and the four goes to Brown House, Tobin and Atoni. By the time the leaders now come and say that we have four and we are splitting to our brothers, if I give you one you know that that is what is due you. There is something to show as a proof that that is what came and I have not done anything with it. What I have gotten from the source is what I am giving to you. So, that is why I said there is room for improvement.
Now, we learnt that even when the persons are collated and sent to the companies, some of the companies outrightly reject them or devise means of making sure they are not employed or even when they go through induction they keep them at home without hearing from the company again. Have you had or come across those kind of experiences?
I won’t say I have come across those experiences but I have heard. But sometimes I begin to wonder, how? For instance, you apply for a job and you go for your interview, sometimes you need some time to get your interview result. So, when it comes to recruitment, it has processes. I have been to an interview where they would say we will only contact successful people. So, is it that I was not successful that is why I was not contacted? Or outrightly, like you mentioned, it is because they don’t like my face? They know me, and so, they don’t like my face, they don’t want me and that is why they are keeping me off. So these are some of the questions we need to ask ourselves. So, like I have said, I have heard but I can’t speak for what I am not really sure of.
The Asawo Chairman of the Buoye Omuso Brown Duawari of Finima, Mr. Tammy Martins Brown has indeed done due deligence of the anatomy of what we denounced as ‘Unknown FTO’ to Finima via his interview with KRISTINA REPORT media.
My Asawo Chairman has just sent a clear message that speaks volumes to the kingdom and all operating companies on Finima land. For the benefit of clarity of this message, the following inferences are hereby outlinred:
He is asserting that all lands in Bonny Island, as well as the Kingdom, are in exclusive ownership by families in the various communities that constitute the Kingdom.
Our Asawo Chairman is alluding that the communities in which these companies operate should be duly acknowledged and treated as critical stakeholders in constituting any committee that will affect their interest.
He further alluded that all the major IOCs operating on the Island or Kingdom are tenants to the Buoye Omuso Brown Duawari of Finima. This is absolutely not in doubt.
The corollary of the above allusion is that it takes only a landlord to conceive about quitting his tenants. QED. This is where Finima is conspicuously pronounced as critical stakeholders
The Asawo Chairman is saying that Finima is a critical component in the general determinant equation of all developmental issues of the kingdom.
Coincidentally, our chairman aligns his position with basic algebraic principles, by also alluding that any attempt to undermine or zero us out as critical component of the equation, will also yield a zero product to the entire Island or kingdom. For instance; if A is a critical component of the equation; A x B x C x D x E = Z; whenever A is zero, then Z being the final result must also be zero. This is mathematical response to the unknow FTO to Finima.
My chairman is saying – based on the above algebraic principles that since the FTO is unknown to Finima, It means that FTO on the Island cannot function
Analytically, He is saying that Finima should not be treated as insgnificant and inconsequential in all matters that has her Landlord-ship interest on the Island or kingdom.
The Asawo Sibidabo went on to stress that as one of the Aboriginal & Founding House of the kingdom (Duawari), as well as landlord to all the operating oil and gas outfits on the Island; we shall resist and will never allow our inalienable and constitutional rights to be trampled upon.
While we appreciate the effort of our Asawo Sibidabo for his composure and well-articulated responses; our team of analysts will continue with volume 2 of the analysis of this August message to the kingdom in our next episode.