Recently, the Tobin House of Finima commended the Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, David Irimagha for intervening in the land dispute between Brown House and Jumbo House. But they also raised some issues relating to the said disputed portions of land, which are the land where the Workers Camp is situated and the portion of land adjacent to the NLNG gate at Willbros Junction where Julius Berger Nigeria Plc is currently using for a temporary site for the Bonny-Bodo Road project.

Tammy Martins Brown, the Leader of the Asa-Awo (adult men folk in the community from 40 years and above) of Buoye Omuso (Brown) House of Finima in Bonny LGA, in this interview with Kristina Reports’ Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Godswill Jumbo, reacts to those issues and also sheds light on several other teething issues in Finima Community and Bonny Kingdom.

Brown, who is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Administration (MCIA), Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (ACIPM), obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

In his more than a decade brilliant career as an accomplished human resources management expert, Brown has served in different capacities and is currently the Lead, Human Resources for a reputable organization in Nigeria. Enjoy the excerpts:

Sir, what is your take on the issues raised by the Tobin House on the Workers Camp and Julius Berger temporary site which is being disputed by Brown and Jumbo Houses?

I recently read some online publications by Kristina Reports from some of my brothers and sometimes, I wonder if they really know the happenings in Finima. Though I don’t wish to join issues with them but for the purposes of records and clarity, I need to react to put facts on record and correct some wrong impressions they had shared to the general public. I also read a publication where the Security Adviser to the Bonny LGA Chairman, Mr. Idamina Tobin was threatening that companies operating in Finima will soon face his wrath. Though, I am not sure under what capacity he did that, but I expected the LGA Chairman Hon. Engr. David Irimagha to call him to order. Unless, perhaps he was directed or acting as acting Chairman of Bonny Local Government.

As you are aware, recently our land was forcefully taken from us and allocated to Julius Berger to site their office for the Bonny-Bodo Road project, only to hear from our brothers, the Tobin House that the land is jointly owned by the Tobin and Attoni Houses. And as such the Local Government Chairman should have invited them for the meeting he held with the Brown and Jumbo Houses. Of course, these are fat lies because they were sponsored to claim that they are joint owners.

For instance, they were all aware of the situation, when some powers-that-be in Bonny forcefully trespassed and allocated the land in question to Julius Berger without due process and also went ahead to arrange cultists to be on standby, while the bush clearing was ongoing and yet the same people who claimed to jointly own this land didn’t bother to ask questions. Only for them to come out in an online news to claim joint ownership. Meanwhile, we are not surprised because these are well known sell outs to some Bonny chiefs and looking for recognitions.

Are you saying that the Tobin and Attoni Houses are not joint owners of the Workers Camp and NEPA proposed site lands?

It (the Workers Camp land) belongs to the Buoye Omuso Brown Major House and I don’t think that is in doubt. As for the NEPA proposed site land, it is really laughable that they also claimed that the land in question was given to the current Amanyanabo by the three houses: Brown Major House, Tobin and Attoni Minor Houses and so the LGA Chairman ought to have called them for a meeting he held with the Brown and Jumbo houses. That will convey a wrong perception that the said land belonged to only Buoye Omuso Brown Major House. Even though they and whoever had sponsored them knew the truth. So, they are doing the bidding of their pay masters.  Where were these individuals, some months ago, when we were agitating for that land that was forcefully taken by “the Powers that be” when we were labelled that we were trying to stop the Bonny-Bodo Road Project. Instead of saying the truth that our agitation was that Julius Berger wanted a land as site office and went to the place. Of course, it was a known fact that it was a case of ganging up against the Finima people.

How about the Chevron Land?

It belongs to the Buoye Omuso Brown Major House as land in Finima is exclusively owned by the Buoye Omuso Brown Major House. Please, feel free to investigate.

So, are you saying in effect that all lands in Finima belong to only the Brown House?  

Of course, yes. Though we are brothers. It sounds funny to me that the Tobin House is claiming ownership of land in Finima Community as they are fully aware that there is a judicial judgement and further appeal re-establishing that the ancestors of the Buoye Omuso Brown Major House are the founders and owners of all lands in Finima. As a journalist, please feel free to make your findings to this facts. In fact, I was happy when I read your interview few days ago, where one of them agreed that Shell belonged to the Jumbo and Finima but not Brown. Perhaps, he forgot that lands are owned by families and that was why SPDC paid 30 per cent to both Brown and Jumbo and 40 per cent to Bonny Kingdom where the Tobin and other families shared from. Though ours (Brown House) is still pending for whatever reason and we strongly believe that at the appropriate time we shall demand for our share and we will get it because it’s our right.

Last time, you said Buoye Omuso (Brown) House was Duawari, can you give details about this? Is the Brown House a Duawari or a Major House?

First, the question to you is this: are the Jumbo Major House and Dan-Jumbo or John Jumbo equal? Are the Captain Hart and Abraham Hart equal? Are the Manilla Pepple and Willie-Pepple equal? Are Wilcox and Christie Wilcox the same? As you are aware, we have five Duawaris, fourteen Major Houses, to which the Buoye Omuso Brown Duawari belonged, including other minor houses that made up the 34 houses. You can please make reference to some of the calendars from the Bonny Palace, one of which is the calendar of the year, 2014, in particular for clarity. Where it was clearly stated “Opuwari (Major Houses) and Kalawari (Minor Houses)”. The Minor Houses is where the Tobin and Attoni belonged.

Before now, in the 80s and 90s, the Amanyanabo-in-Council does not sit on the same table for Council meetings. The Major Houses always sit with the Amanyanabo. While the minor and sub houses sit behind the major houses. But today, because of recognition and what they intend to get, no one wants to stand to say the truth even for the defence of their own community or houses. It is a shame. But it is on record that no man points finger at Finima land, especially, the Buoye Omuso (Brown) Duawari and goes scot-free. A situation where we change history every now and then. I grew up to know that we have five Duawaris, fourteen Major Houses and other Minor Houses that made up the Chieftaincy Houses in Bonny. These include the Major Houses: Manilla Pepple, Allison, Captain Hart, Brown, Wilcox, Halliday, Jumbo, Banigo, Jack Wilson Pepple, Tolofari, Finecountry, Dublin Green, Bristol and Longjohn; and the Minor Houses: Tobin, Attoni, Beresiri, Allaputa, Pollyn, Jackmay, Willie-Pepple, Dan-Jumbo, Jamaica-Allison, Ezekiel-Hart, Benstowe, Jack-Manilla Pepple, Abbey-Hart, Jim-Halliday, Christie Wilcox, John Jumbo, Abraham-Hart, Jecky Green and Ada Allison.

The history today is tagged chieftaincy Houses only and no more Duawari, Major and Minor Houses as chieftaincy Houses. And because of fear no one is asking how come or when did this history change? Like, I will always say, I can speak for myself, my house, the Buoye Omuso (Brown) Duawari and Finima community. Brown Major House still remain and will continue to be one of the Duawaris and a Major House.

Now, there have been divided opinion on who should be the right persons to deal with the companies operating in Bonny LGA. Is it the King Perekule Palace, the Local Government Chairman or the individual Chieftaincy Houses?

Like I had explained in one of my earlier interview some months ago. We are not interested in who a company wants to deal with. We are only interested as the immediate and primary host community and the landlord that had sacrificed our ancestral home for the rest of Bonny, and the nation in general, that when a company comes to operate on our land, they must see the owners of the land which is the Buoye Omuso Brown Major House and there is nothing anyone can do about that no matter how they change the history, the truth remains the truth. Either way, I don’t think we have a problem with where a company visits first. As you are aware, we have one King. The companies must give us what is due us and we will not have any issues.

Can we understand clearer where you are coming from and why you are making these assertions. Can you give us an insight into the origin of the Brown House?

I read one funny history from Mr. Dagogo Tobin. Where he went on to say that the Brown Major house should go and do more research on our history to know our lineage. He went on to also state that we should explain how we became Duawari. He sounded like a stranger. Are these the kind of individuals, families should entrust with leadership responsibilities? Well, Finima was founded, first settled upon, occupied and owned by Kongo, who migrated from the ancient country of Okoloba in Ebeni-Toru, of central Ijaw Clan in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, in about 1100Ad, to found Ikpakpayo. Kongo, and his followers migrated through the sea route following the coastline from central Ijaw, eastward, passing through Ke, in present day Degema LGA, moved further across the present day Bonny River to a place called Iyamkpo, where they lived peacefully with some other migrating settlers, who later migrated to Tombia and became part of the Kalabari Kingdom. This was before the arrival at Okolo-Ama (Bonny), of Alagbarigha and his followers, who also migrated eastward from Central Ijaw, through the hinterland route. Kongo, begat Ipuo, Ipuo begat Ngogo, Ngogo begat Kala Ipuo, Kala-Ipuo begat Sonia, Sonia beegat Wolo, Wolo begat Buo, who then begat Omuso, or (Brown), these were the Clan Heads before the chieftaincy era, except Omuso.

Sonia, one of the descendants of Kongo, during his leadership, moved from Ikpakpayo to found Sonia-Sughu also known as Old Finima, part of which was later leased out for the establishment of the crude oil storage and export terminal operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Limited, and part of which was taken over by the Federal Government of Nigeria for the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) project. Consequent upon which Finima Community was subsequently resettled back on the old Ikpakpayo land, which was founded, first settled upon, occupied and owned by Kongo.

Finima from the time of its founding by Kongo, had always been under the leadership and ruler-ship of Kongo, and his descendants, the ancestors of Omuso, who were then known as “Clan Heads” before the founding and creation of Buoye Omuso (Brown) Major House Chieftaincy stool, by Omuso. Before the founding of the Chieftaincy stool of Buoye Omuso (Brown) Major House of Finima, Omuso, the founder of the Chieftaincy stool, from his youth showed signs of entrepreneurship and leadership prowess, and thus was envied by his brothers and relations, who conspired to send him on exile, by giving him to European slave ship by Captain Hart upon on board their slave ship. However, on a routine visit to the slave ship by Captain Hart of the Hart Major House of Bonny, Omuso spoke to him (Captain Hart) in Ibani language and explained the circumstances that led to his presence in the slave ship, Captain Hart upon hearing him speak Ibani language, which was not a slave language, told the European slave dealers to release Omuso to him as he was not a slave but was of royalty. This demand for Omuso’s release was based on Bonny trade treaty with the Europeans and Ibani tradition, which forbade freeborns from being taken or sold into slavery.

Omuso gave lands to Eselema to hold in trust for the Attoni House and made him, Eselema, the Head and leader of the entire Attoni House. Eselema held unto this position until sometime in about the year 1837, when trouble broke out between him and Doghubo’s biological children, who demanded their father’s keys and properties from Eselema, which the latter refused to surrender. This incident happened during the reign of Chief William Abobo Brown, and led to litigation, which was adjudged in favour of Eselema against the children of Doghubo. In reaction, Doghubo’s biological children killed Eselema, therefore, their descendants continue to head the Attoni House, up until sometime in 1936 when Mark Attoni, one of their descendants became the first Chief of the Attoni Minor House.

After the death of Eselema, the Attoni House suffered series of calamities, including mysterious deaths of men, women and children of the House and depletion of the wealth of the House up until sometime about 1960-1962, when a seer, who was invited by the House, prophesied that, the deaths and woes of the House will only stop if the stool of Attoni House is given back to the Eselema group to head as Chiefs of the House. The Attoni House decided to remedy the situation it found itself and heeded to the advice of the Seer in 1962, when Chief Abel Adafe Attoni of the Eselema group was given the stool as the Chief and Head of the Attoni minor House.

As for the relationship between Buoye Omuso (Brown) Major House and Tobin Minor House, let me say that the history of Tobin House lineage started with Otunte, an Andoni man, who was captured to Bonny during one of the wars between Bonny and Andoni. Otunte lived and served in the household of King Opubo Pepple of Bonny with other Andoni people, before they were assimilated into the Bonny community. Otunte begat Diri and Waribo. Diri begat Konibo. Diri and his son, Konibo, who were fishermen, later moved to and settled in Finima. This was in the time of Buo, the father of Chief Omuso Brown. After Buo’s death, Konibo had concubinage relationship with Buo’s lawful wife by name, Gbularu, and begat a son whom Konibo named Owonte, which was later corrupted to Awanta. Owonte or Awanta was given an Ibani name “Ida-Obusigha” by Buoye-Ogbulu (Buo’s first son). According to Bonny customs and traditions all children born in concubinage relationship by a woman belong to her lawful husband. Accordingly, Owonte or Awanta belong to Buo’s household.

During the lifetime of one Abraham Sunday, there was a failed attempt at installing a Tobin House Chief as a sub or minor chieftaincy House under the Brown House. This was during the reign of Chief Henry Buowari Brown, OBE. This attempt failed because of an exhibition of gross insubordination to the Brown Major House. The son of the said Abraham Sunday, Samuel Owunabo Tobin later became the first Chief of the Tobin Minor House of Finima in 1961 and the Tobin House was thus recognized as a sub or minor chieftaincy House of the Brown Major House in Bonny Kingdom.

Are you saying by these assertions that the Buoye Omuso (Brown) House is paramount to the other Houses in Finima?

Yes, Buoye omuso (Brown) Major House of Finima does not share any of its territorial Settlements with any other House or Family. The territorial settlements of Buoye Omuso (Brown) Major House of Finima, include: Agia-Okolo, Akusu, Agalanga, Owubipi, Mongolobie (Ajalamonigha-Kiri & Amariari-Kiri), Light House, Finitasingi, Dogokiri, Agaja 1, 2, 3, & 4, Workers Camp, Airport Road/New Road, Government Girls Secondary School, Finima, Mbisughu, Namata, Gum-Kiri, Bregede, Okumakiri, etc. Its territorial settlements are bounded in the South by the coastline, and across the Bonny River to settlements in Bregede and others. In the East, by a clear and undisputed boundary with the Longjohn House of Abalamabie, at Gum-Kiri, in the North West, by a creek known as Eresinye-Okolo, behind Government School, Bonny.

As a mark of their ownership of Finima land, and in recognition of their ancestors’ ownership of same it was the Buoye Omuso (Brown) Major House that exclusively owned the Memorial House, Brown Waterfront, Finima Town Square, aka “Buo Nungo, meaning “Buo’s Square” and Brown House War canoe dockhouse in the Old Finima Settlement, all of which were replaced in New Finima, when the Community was relocated in 1991. Buoye Omuso (Brown) Major House has the also enjoyed and exercised exclusive and maximum acts of ownership over all lands in Finima, by building thereon, granting licenses to non-members of the House to live in their settlements, leasing and allocating parts thereof to non-members of the House as well as third parties, including corporate organizations etc.

The well-known and accepted history of the founding fathers and ownership of Finima by the Buoye Omuso (Brown) Major House is documented and also encapsulated in many published books, and journals, some of which are: 1) “The Trading States of Oil Rivers” by G. I. Jones, published in 1963, etc., as well as (2) Webber’s intelligence Report on Bonny, 1936; and 3) “A History of Grand Bonny” by Professor E. J. Alagoa, published in 1972. There are also plethora of decided cases on the founding and ownership of Finima, some of which are: 1) Suit No: PHC/174/1972 – Chief Samuel O. Tobin & Others VS Chief Israel I. Brown & Others. This judgement on appeal was affirmed by the Court of appeal in Enugu in Suit No. FCA/E/60/1980 – Chief Samuel O. Tobin & Others VS Chief Israel I. Brown & Others. 2) Suit No: PHC/188/2010 – Chief Y. S. Tobin VS Chief Yibo Buowari Brown & Others 3) Suit No: PHC/745/2012 – Chief Young Sunday Tobin & Others VS Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc., Chief Henry Buowari Brown and Elder (Barrister) Bara Brown, and many other decided cases.

The issues related to the paramountcy of the Buoye Omuso (Brown) Major House of Finima and the founding of Finima by its ancestors are well captured and succinctly put on page 99 of the judgement in Suit No. PHC/174/1972 – Chief Samuel O. Tobin & Others vs. Chief Israel I. Brown & Others, where the trial Judge, Hon. Justice O. Inko-Tariah rightly put it thus: “the Brown House with its paramountcy in Finima as the founders are the owners of all property vested in Finima village except property in private ownership of individual family”. It is therefore not surprising that, when the early European trader/missionaries arrived at Bonny Island, they found Chief Omoni Jack Brown, who was then the Head and Chief of Buoye Omuso (Brown) Major House and Paramount Chief of Finima, in a position of absolute authority in Finima and relative independence within the Ibani clan. He was titled the “Governor of Finima”. He also provided sanctuary in Finima to King William Dappa Pepple when the latter returned from exile in 1861 and created enabling environment for the early Christian missionaries to propagate the gospel in Ibani land.