Soft-spoken but always deploying refreshing erudition in his analysis of issues, and added to that, very pungent in making his points, Tammy Martins-Brown, who is the Chairman of the Asawo of Buoye Omuso (Brown) Chieftaincy House of Bonny Kingdom, took time his busy schedule to weigh in on the issues around the agitation by his community, Finima, to be recognized as the host of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) gas liquefaction plant and export terminal in Bonny.

He spoke with Kristina Reports Publisher, Godswill Jumbo on the critical issues, the way forward and expectations of the Finima Community on the imminent assumption of office by NLNG’s new helmsman, Dr Philip Mshelbila. Here are the excerpts:  

Kristina Reports: We are curious that amidst the hue and cry about the host community agitation by your people, Finima Community, we didn’t hear from you…

Tammy Brown: (Cuts in) You are very observant, I had deliberately decided not to talk because we have very capable hands to deal with issues as they arise such as the very recent subject matter, Finima “Host Community” protest and public hearing by the lower chamber of the National Assembly, the House of Representatives.

The issue is easier to grasp because it is statutory according to the NCDMB Community Content Guideline. The challenge is our people in Bonny, who are politicizing the matter because of their greed for wealth for only themselves and their families. Otherwise, tell me what is wrong to recognize Finima Community as host community, even when it is well defined in the CCG, rather they say we are trying to divide Bonny Kingdom.

Unfortunately, we don’t have anything as ‘host kingdom’ in the CCG but rather ‘host community’ and ‘impacted community’. Of course, we are not saying Finima Community should take everything and the rest of Bonny should not benefit from the IOCs but for the IOCs to give Finima Community the recognition it deserves as Host Community.

Strangely, against the backdrop of perceptions, whether true or false, that Finima is the most impacted environment in the operations of IOCs in Bonny, the Brown House seems to be the only house crying; the other houses say their non-participation is because they were not consulted. How do you view this?

You should know what it means to leave your ancestral home for a project to be sited for the benefit of all, including the entire country, Nigeria. You are aware that where you have NLNG trains 1 to 6 are in the old Finima before we were relocated to the present Finima Community. You are also aware that we are originally fishermen by occupation and all our creeks 36 out 37 are all closed down. The only existing one is almost gone, our economic trees were all destroyed, denying us of our livelihoods yet some other Bonny communities are still enjoying theirs till today.

Talking about Brown House being the only house crying, it is not true as we have the Tobins and Attonis in the cry. As you may be aware, the Finima Capacity Development Committee was duly constituted by the Council of Wari-Alapu with members from Brown Major House, Tobin and Attoni Minor Houses for equity and fairness. So, when the Tobins and Attonis claim they were not aware even when they officially engaged them, I am baffled. Obviously, I am not surprised. You can see that they are afraid of some authority. Those trying to create the confusion in Finima are some factions of the Tobins and Attonis. You can also see that we have some members representing both houses in the FCDC.

For the Tobins, it’s a common knowledge that they have always stood against any development coming into Finima Community from inception. For instance, during the relocation from old Finima to present settlement to give way for the NLNG operation, they were opposed to the movement. Some years ago, when we agitated for employment marginalisation, they were opposed to it and eventually after we got the 60% to Bonny and 40% to Finima Community, today, they are all enjoying the benefits.

But if people are saying that you want to divide Bonny Kingdom it indicates fears that granting Finima that status of host community of NLNG could put the destiny of the rest of the kingdom in their hands, and given the complaints of marginalization by Tobin and Attoni Houses, who say Brown House collects everything from the companies and gives them little or nothing, don’t you think such fears are valid?

If we are sincere, I don’t see any reason to be scared. Like I had explained earlier, let me reiterate, we are not interested in kingship or whether or not, we are Bonny Kingdom, we are all Bonny people but from Finima Community as others are from other communities that make up Bonny Kingdom. However, we are only interested in our tenants, the IOCs, recognizing Finima Community as their host community and that we will never compromise.

Now talking about marginalisation of other families or houses in Finima. I am not sure you’ve heard the Attonis complaining that the Brown House has marginalized them before. Perhaps, some factions of the Tobins might have complained at various times because of their mischief. So, if they are open minded there is alot for them to benefit and enjoy as Finima indigenes whether you are Brown, Attoni or Tobin; we are all one people.

How do you react to insinuations that the agitation led by Brown House for host community status for Finima is synonymous with rebellion against the authority of the Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Grand Bonny Kingdom?

I don’t want to believe that anyone who is asking his tenants to recognize him as his landlord and accord him all rights including statutory rights will be viewed as rebellious against the Amanyanabo. Like we had always clarified that Finima is not fighting for kingship or even have any issues with the kingdom but only asking our tenants to accord Finima Community its status as host community as stipulated in the CCG. However, if anyone feels that asking for one’s right is viewed as rebellion then I am afraid, we don’t owe anyone any apologies.

Imagine the level of desperation of our own people in authority in Bonny. How they sponsored youths to attack their fellow youths in Finima who were carrying out peaceful protests to press home their demands. Again, I am not surprised, when some chiefs now try to change Bonny history just to remain relevant. We heard some are claiming the youths that attacked our people were not sent by anyone even though the BYF leader agreed that they were sent; till this minute no one has condemned the actions of those youths. We also know that in the past, some have tried to please their benefactors and eventually were disgraced out of office. As leaders, we have advised our youths to remain calm as the law would take its course.

I wish to applaud my friend, Barr. Clinton Dan-Jumbo for standing for the truth, advising those beating the drums of war to be wary of their ways and stated in clear terms that families are entitled to their lands. These are the kind of young men to be saddled with positions of trust. Young men with credibility and reputation. I mean how many can come out to speak up on issues like this?

For emphasis, we refused to be intimidated by anyone to deny Finima Community our rights because the agitation is for Finima to be recognized as host community as it is rightful and legal. If the factions of the Tobin and Attoni Houses are scared and are dissociating themselves from the agitation, I guess it is their individual rights. Our demand has nothing to do with Kingdom as it is purely statutory according to the NCDMB CCG provision that we are host community to NLNG. We have repeatedly reminded all that it is families that own lands in Bonny Kingdom. It is common knowledge that Finima lands are the exclusive property of the Brown Major House. They are free to challenge it if they are not happy.

But there assertions that though lands are owned by families those families were created by someone and those lands were allocated ab initio, like in the case of Omuso, the ancestor of the Brown House, it is said that it was King Perekule that created a chieftaincy house for him and made him chief through Captain Hart, and sent him with security escorts from Captain Hart House to dwell in Finima; that this is why Captain Hart House has a sub house in Brown House. Given this background that Brown House cannot claim ownership of Finima just like that. Do you agree with this assertion?

Well, before we had Perekule as king, there were kings that ruled Bonny Kingdom, they were all from the Duawari. Obviously, it is important to note that Hart House was created by Perekule and was never a Duawari in our Bonny history. So, Hart House cannot make such mischievous and spurious claims or assertions.

You already know the history but the fact that Omuso was rescued by the King upon his identification, and subsequently handed him over to Captain Hart does not mean that Omuso has any allegiances to Hart House. Therefore, their claims are not sustainable.

The NLNG just announced a governance transition that would take effect on August 31, 2021, what expectations does the Brown House have for the incoming Managing Director, Dr Philip Mshelbila, especially, with regards to this host community issue?

There is no excitement as the transition is NLNG’s internal process. We will only pray that the new incoming Managing Director, Dr. Philip Mshelbila comes in with positive plans and strategies that will improve and engender a stronger and more sustainable relationship, especially, as it concerns recognition of Finima as his company’s host community and treat his landlords as appropriate with respect knowing that the Finima people had sacrificed a lot for NLNG to operate.