Our attention has been drawn to the above captioned publication, dated 7″ day of February, 2022 and made on a letter head of CAPTAIN HART (MAJOR) CHIEFTAINCY HOUSE, especially, paragraphs 7 and 8 on pages 2 and 3 respectively of same publication. The said publication was signed by (1) Se-Alabo Reginald F. P. Hart, JP, MON, (2) Amaopusenibo (Hon.) Israel Tuotamuno Williams, and (3) Amasenibo (Hon.) Valentine Adango lgoni.

It is very unfortunate that the authors and publishers of the said document who claimed and signed same as the leadership of Captain Hart (Major) House, have chosen to follow the dishonourable path of historical revisionism and deceit.

In as much as we don’t intend joining issues with the authors and publishers, and indeed the Captain Hart (Major) House of Bonny on the contents of the said publication, we however deem it necessary to clarity various grossly erroneous aspects conversed in the publication for posterity and record purposes.

it is on record that Miori Hart (and not Minori, as they corruptly called it, as the word “Minori” is not an Ibani name or language) is not at any time the progenitor of Finima Hart Family Unit. Finima Hart Family Unit traces it progenitor to Animi who first settled in Finima before Aberenimigha, Miori and others accompanied Buoye Omuso Brown to Finima. In collaboration, with their Aberenimigha, Miori and other relatives, the Finima Hart Family Unit has since then been headed by the lineage of Animi.

Late Warisenibo Samuel Kalaibani Hart, who was an Animi and not a Miori, headed the Animi Ikpangi and the Finima Hart Family Unit. Our late Warisenibo Samuel Kalaibani Hart was a popular and wealthy man by any Ibani standard during his time, thus, he attended various social functions and events. Attendance at events, and socializing does not make one a member of an association group or family. Late Warisenibo Samuel Kalaibani Hart’s son, Senibo Innocent Agomieye S. K. Hart, an Animi is the current leader of Animi Ikpangi and Chairman of the Finima Hart Family Unit.

Our late Warisenibo Samuel Kalaibani Hart joined his ancestors in 1997, and if, as claimed in the publication, his stool has been vacant in the Captain Hart Major House cabinet, why haven’t it been filled in the past 25 years since his demise? Of course, it is because nothing of that nature exists. We are not unaware of the Captain Hart Major House leadership’s clandestine plans to expand their influence to the Finima Hart Family, which till date has not yielded any fruits as the Finima Hart Family is united and stand by our letters of (1989 and 1984) that we are NOT part of Captain Hart (Major) Chieftaincy House of Bonny. Finima Hart House Family is in full and complete alignment with Buoye Omuso Brown Duawari of Finima.

We are very much aware that it is difficult for the leadership of Captain Hart Major House to accept our nomenclature of Hart-Brown in Buoye Omuso Brown (Major House) Duawari Council of Warialapu as depicted in the publication. As stated earlier, in 1989 and 1994, respectively, Finima Hart Family Unit formally communicated to the leadership of Captain our non-alignment with Captain Hart (Major) Chieftaincy House of Bonny. We believe and so it is that, all constitutions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, since independence in 1960 till date guarantee our freedom of association. Therefore, under the instant law we have inalienable right to associate with whomsoever we prefer. Of course, our choice is clear.

Aseme-Warialabo Amoni Hart-Brown became a member of Council of Warialapu of Buoye Omuso Brown (Major) House in 2003, nine years after Finima Hart House had put the Captain Hart (Major) Chieftaincy House of Bonny on notice of its non-alignment with them. For the avoidance of doubt, Warialabo Amoni Hart-Brown’s parents are Otorukiri Ezekiel-Hart of Bonny and Animi of Finima Hart Family Unit

The authors of the said publication should know, or ought to know, as “Ibani sons, that Ibani custom and tradition accord equal rights, privilege, importance and relevance to a child of providence born to parents from different localities, or family units, or communities and if providence so warrants, such a child can occupy privileged positions in either of them.      

As important as this nomenclature is and as applicable to other Ibani sons and daughters including the Se-Alabo of Captain Hart (Major) House, who we very well know that before now was known and called Reginald F. P. Abbey and later became known and called Reginald E. P. Abbey-Hart and the same person is currently known and called Se-Alabo Reginald F. P, Hart.

Those living in glass houses should learn and restrain themselves from throwing stones. If indeed, the signatories to the above captioned diatribe are so proud of and love the Hart Major Chieftaincy House of Bonny so dearly as they are won’t to make us believe, one wonders why Amaopusenibo Israel Tuotamuno Williams, and Amasenibo Valentine lgoni did not adopt, or add “Hart” so lovingly to their respective names.

It is our belief and correctly so, that it is the authors of the said publication, purporting to act as the leadership of Captain Hart (Major) Chieftaincy House of Bonny, that is living in self-delusion or not being able to come to terms with the tact that there is no relationship existing between Captain Hart (Major) Chieftaincy House of Bonny and the Finima Hart Family Unit. As earlier said. we are very much aware of the clandestine, nocturnal and demagoguery calls and meetings with three members of our Family Unit by some of the authors of the said publication on how they can, according to them, fully rekindle the long-abandoned relationship with the Hart Family Unit of Finima, claiming that there was an agelong existing brotherliness and friendship between them. Unfortunately, this backyard tactics will not only fail but will be an effort in futility

We are equally aware that because the surreptitious plans to lure our family members is not working out and the resistance to the failed greedy plan to annex and/or capture lands in Finima which do not belong to the Captain Hart Major House, the trio of Se-Alabo Reginald Hart, Amaopusenibo I. T. Williams and Amasenibo Valentine lgoni have resorted to open threat of violence and threat to life. This is indeed a despicable and condemnable act. If the authors of the publication feel so aggrieved, the law is there at their disposal, rather than taking uncivilized approach by resorting to threats. We cannot be cowed by any form of threat of violence and threat to our lives. As law abiding citizens, however, we shall not take any form of threats lightly. The authors of the publication should be rest assured that as law abiding citizens, we shall follow the course of the law in protecting our family unit, our properties and persons.

Signed:

Senibo Innocent Agomieye S. K. Hart, Chairman, Finima Ojuwari, Animi Ikpangi

Senibo Sunny T. Hart, Secretary Emeritus, Aberenimigha Ikpangi

Senibo Tuminitamunokuma T. Hart, Youth Leader, Miori Ikpangi

Comrade Alali T. Hart, Youth Leader, Finima Ojuwari