BRIEF HISTORY OF BUOYE OMUSO MAJOR HOUSE OF FINIMA

THE CREATION OF THE CHIEFSTAINCY STOOL OF BUOYE OMUSO (BROWN) MAJOR HOUSE OF FINIMA{ BRIEF HISTORY OF BUOYE OMUSO MAJOR HOUSE OF FINIMA }

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, about 1000AD, to found Ikpakpayo,
Kongo, and his followers migrated through the sea route following the coastline from Central Ijaw, eastward, passing through Ke, 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 inter-land route.
Kongo, begat Ipuo, Ipuo begat Ngogo, Ngogo begat Kala Ipuo, Kala-Ipuo begat Sonia, Sonia begat 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 Limited, and part of which was taken over by the Federal Government of Nigeria for the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas 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 dealers, who took him 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 freeborn from being taken or sold into slavery.
Upon his release, Captain Hart took Omuso to Bonny, where he stayed for some time in royalty, and later returned to Finima, where he eventually found and created the Buoye Omuso (Brown) Major House Chieftaincy stool of Finima.
On Omuso’s return to Finima, he was accompanied by some members of the Hart Major House of Bonny, who settled in Finima and were later assimilated into the Buoye Omuso Brown Major House and still owe allegiance to the Brown House till date and presently has a representative in the Council of Wari-Alapu of the Buoye Omuso (Brown) Major House, who goes by the title “Wari-alabo Hart-Brown”.
From the time of the founding of Finima, Kongo, Sonia, and their descendants, who were then known as Clan Heads, were the absolute rulers of the place, up until the creation of the Buoye Omuso (Brown) Major House Chieftaincy stool by their descendant, Omuso; who continued the reign of rulership as Chief and Paramount Ruler of Finima. Ever since, the Buoye Omuso (Brown) Major House has been the only ruling and Royal House of Finima, and has remained in peaceful and exclusive possession of all lands in Finima.
Buoye Omuso (Brown) Major House of Finima, is also one of the five ancestral founding Houses (Duawari) of Bonny Kingdom, the others are Alagbarigha (Bristol), Awusa (Halliday), Dublin Green, and Tolofari (Oruasawo). These five Houses form the nucleus of the Ibani Traditional and Cultural values and Heritage. It is also, one of the fourteen (14) traditional Major Houses in Ibani Se (Bonny Kingdom), which are traditionally identified by the title “Okoloma-ngekirifa-jie” meaning “fourteen” (14) and has the only traditionally recognized Palace in Finima