Ibani Custom Was Breached at Finima April Events – Bonny Chiefs Council Asserts, Says Chiefs Are Presented To Amanyanabo Alone

The ultimate custodian of Ibani customs and traditions, the Bonny Chiefs Council (BCC) says the process of electing, installing, capping and presentation of chiefs in the Ibani nation ends before the Amanyanabo.

The BCC said this in a statement tagged “BONNY KINGDOM CANNOT BE AT WAR WITH ITSELF VIZ-4-VIZ THE DESPICABLE ACTIONS OF A FACTION OF THE BROWN CHIEFTAINCY HOUSE IN FINIMA COMMUNITY, BONNY KINGDOM”, signed by its Chairman, Se-Alabo Dagogo Claude-Wilcox, MON, JP, Vice Chairman, Se-Alabo Haniel Jack-Wilson Pepple, and seven of its members and made available to Kristina Reports in Bonny, Rivers State.   

It stated that the activities of a faction of the Brown Chieftaincy House of Bonny Kingdom on Friday and Saturday, April 25 and 26, 2025 in Finima where Burusu (family unit) heads were elevated to chieftaincy status and presented to a purported chief was an aberration in Ibani custom and tradition.

The Council, which comprises the Chiefs and Heads of the 34 chieftaincy houses in Bonny Kingdom, with the Amanyanabo-in-Council, at its apex, informed that the chieftaincy house system began with King Perekule and has ensured peaceful co-existence of all the Bonny Kingdom families.

An abridged version of the statement is reproduced below:

“BONNY KINGDOM CANNOT BE AT WAR WITH ITSELF VIZ-4-VIZ THE DESPICABLE ACTIONS OF A FACTION OF THE BROWN CHIEFTAINCY HOUSE IN FINIMA COMMUNITY, BONNY KINGDOM

Okoloma Nge Kiri Faji, we greet you.

1.  As we all know the Bonny Kingdom is one homogeneous entity made-up of 34 Chieftaincy Houses including the three Chieftaincy Houses in Finima Community, namely Brown, Attoni and Tobin, under one King, His Majesty King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, JP, CON, DSSRS, Perekule XI, Natural Ruler and Amanyanabo of Bonny.

2. In Bonny Kingdom, the Bonny Chiefs’ Council as made up of the 34 Chieftaincy Houses is the Custodian of lbani custom and tradition with the King, Amanyanabo of Bonny, at the Apex of the Council, a recognized First class traditional ruler in Rivers State whose leadership has continued to ensure peaceful co-existence.

3. Under these circumstances it is imperative, therefore that we state as follows:

4.   Finally, we know that this inglorious act of that faction of the Brown House is provocative. However, we urge all our people of Bonny Kingdom to continue to maintain the peace while the Bonny Chiefs Council is addressing the matter.