I am SENIDO ALLWELL BROWN, an Elder in Buoye Omuso (Brown) House, a direct and the eldest male descendant of the lineage of the founder of the House and a great-grandson of Chief William Jack Brown. I am also the Head of Chief Max Allwell Brown Dynasty and the Chairman of Chief Jack Omoni DUPUYO POLO (Aboriginal Family of Finima.
The purpose of this Press Statement is to clarify issues relating to the Chieftaincy of Buoye Omuso (Brown) House of Finima.
- Firstly, let me inform that neither I, the leader of the direct descendants of the lineage (Taa-Furo Awo), nor Amaopusenibo (Capt) Bara Allwell-Brown was involved in any form, shape or style in the activities in both Finima and Bonny, leading to the selection, installation and proclamation/presentation of persons to ascend the revered stool of our forebears.
- It is unfortunate and worrisome that the dramatis personae failed to adopt the precepts of our custom and laid down procedures/traditional best practices for the selection and installation of Chief/Head of Buoye Omuso (Brown) House.
- No Chief of Buoye Omuso (Brown) House had ever emerged without the exclusive nomination by the direct descendants of the lineage of the founder of the Chieftaincy Stool (Taa-Furo Awo), or in consultation with and participation of the Taa-Furo Awo.
- It is not our custom and has never been the tradition or prerogative of the Council of Elders to unilaterally nominate, select, install and proclaim a candidate for the Chieftaincy stool of Buoye Omuso (Brown) House, to the total exclusion of the Taa-Furo Awo.
- By our custom and tradition, in the absence of a Chief, a Caretaker Committee comprising Elders and Principal Members is usually appointed to run the affairs of the House, through the convocation of a Town Hall meeting of all members of Buoye Omuso (Brown) House.
- It is the Caretaker Committee in consultation with the direct descendants of the lineage (Taa-Furo Awo), that receives nomination and recommendation of an appropriate candidate for confirmation and installation in conjunction with Elders Council and subsequent proclamation and presentation to the Amanyanabo-in-Council.
- It is worthy of mention that the Council of Elders midwifed a Constitution titled; Constitution of Buoye Omuso (Brown) Major House of Finima 2016, which stipulates in Chapter 4 Article 5(1) and 5(2) that:
‘5(1) The ascendency to the throne of the Aseme-Alabo of the Buoye Omuso (Brown) Major House of Finima shall be through the male lineage of the founder of the chieftaincy stool of the House (Buoye Omuso)’
‘5(2) The Aseme-Alabo of the House shall be a male descendant of the lineage of the founder of the chieftaincy stool of the House and shall in addition meet all the requirements listed below. Provided that, where the throne is vacant and there is no competent and acceptable male descendant of the lineage of the founder of the chieftaincy stool of the House at any given point in time, then, any other competent and acceptable male member of the House, who must be a member of the House by birth and who shall in addition, also meet all other requirements listed below, shall be chosen to ascend the throne’
- Despite the above constitutional provisions and the availability of a qualified and competent male descendant of the lineage of the founder of the chieftaincy stool of the House (Taa-Furo Tuwo), whom they unilaterally nominated and endorsed, the Council of Elders curiously chose not to keep faith with the spirit and letters of the constitution which they promulgated. So, instead of declaring the male descendant of the lineage as the Chief-elect and installing same in conformance with the 2016 Constitution, they decided to embark on an “election” (which is alien to our custom and tradition) that purportedly produced a non Taa-Furo Tuwo. This is a contravention of the said 2016 Constitution.
- It is obvious from the foregoing, therefore, that both chieftaincy installation exercises were lacking the much cherished and enduring best practices of Buoye Omuso (Brown) House custom and tradition.
Thank you
Elder Senibo Allwell-Brown, FCA, LM
4th February, 2022
Elder maximum regards and respect.May I kindly and humbly inquire by commenting firstly for this amiable and courageous insight to the contravention of the 2016 Constitution of the House.
Elder sir, do we have any prior clearify referred documented report to appropriate quarters of authority, ( as to whom it may concern) to apprehend the contravention before now? When, how and where was this addressed.. if not thus , why this etnest commencement of super royal soliciting which has begun to seems Ill and good?
If one do not make hay while the sun sets the flowers and the law ( which seems to be an ass – Charles Dickens’) turn around at dark, to say goodbye. Because a stitch on time would have saved nine. Thank you and God bless.
I remain yours faithfully,