Again, Association Demands Fair Play, Share Of Shell’s Payment

The Association of Founding and Aboriginal Royal Houses of Grand Bonny Kingdom (Duawaris) has reiterated its demand for fair play and due share of payments from multinational oil companies, especially Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) operating in their homeland.
This was contained in two letters addressed separately to the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike and the Editor of The Guardian Newspaper of Nigeria, jointly signed by the Secretary, Aseme-Warisenibo Elliot D. Dublin Green and Aseme-Wari Senibo Riginald Ayi Cross Brown, respectively, and made available to The Tide in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
It would be recalled that The Guardianr, in its Sunday edition of August 4, 2019, had published a story captioned: “Disbursement of Shell N2.45bn stirs crisis in Bonny”, which attracted a rejoinder signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Bonny Chiefs’ Council, Se-Alabo) D.S.C. Wilcox and Se-Alabo A.I.S. Willie-Pepple, respectively.
The association’s letter to the governor seeks investigation and enforcement of transparency in Bonny Kingdom’s public funds, its share of payments made to other houses, paramount chiefs, chiefs (Se-Alapu) and individuals, addressing the plight and imminent genocide against the Duawaris, among other issues.
On the other hand, the letter to The Guardian contains a brief Aboriginal history of Ancient Grand Bonny Kingdom, discussion of newspaper publication, reaction of the Bonny Chiefs’ Council, and finally, and appeal to appropriate Federal Government and Rivers State Government, to investigate Bonny Kingdom’s public funds being received by the Bonny Chiefs’ Council/Amanyanabo-In-Council of Bonny Kingdom, and thereby enforce transparency and accountability on the council and other appeals for general benefits.
As part of Duawaris’ history, the Corporate Affairs Commission registered association (bearing No. CAC/IT/No 100619, dated 13th September, 2017) recounts as follows: “From time immemorial, Ancient Grand Bonny Kingdom was founded on virgin lands and territories, by the direct blood ancestors (founding ancestors/generation) of the present day Duawaris …….. which generation, led by the patriarchs and premier monarchs of the kingdom constitute Duwaris of their own God-given kingdom. This is why each of the four patriarchs and premier monarchs known as Amanyanabo are the actual and invaluable owners of their God-given land and territories comprised in the ancient kingdom; the four patriarchs and premier monarchs are Ndoli Okpara, Opuamakuba, Alagbariye and Asinini”.
Interestingly, the letter tracks the history of the Ancient Bonny Kingdom, which is said to maintain steady relations with their Aboriginal Ebeni-Toru Central Ijaw homeland.
“In effect, Founding Ancestors of our Ancient Kingdom evolved from their progenitor, Ebeni, of the Lineage of Okoloba, Kolokuma in present-day Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State”.
The letter also states that “there are 35 houses in ancient Ground Bonny Kingdom which are made up of 4 Categories of Houses (5 Duawaris, the Perkule Royal House, the Opuwaris and the Kalawari’s)”. It as well quotes renowned Nigerian and foreign historians, namely: Emeritus Professor E.J. Alagoa, and A Fombo (A chronicle of Grand Bonny; Omiepirsa Yvonne Buowari (the people and culture of Grand Bonny Kingdom with a foreword by Adolf Ransom Pepple and Bonny Kingdom Historical Society’s Publication (The History of Bonny)with a foreword by Professor Edward Opuada Iwonte Banigo; G.I. Jones (The Trading States of the Oil Rivers); Major Arthur Glyn Leonard (The Lower Niger and Its Tribers) to substantiate the basis of the Duawaris.
Other quoted historians include, Warialobo C.T. Oruene Fombo Hart (Aspects of Bonny In Perspective) and K. Onwuka Dike Trade, Politics in the Niger Delta); K.I. Abbey (A Spotlight on Grand Bonny (with foreword by Se-Alabo (Dr) Osobonye Rogers LongJohn) and G. Finapiri (Forgotten Heroes of Grand Bonny).