Bonny was the most active commercial centre of the Niger Delta and reached the height of its power between 1792 and 1830 under Dappa the great.

His successor King William Dappa Pepple or King Pepple V of Bonny was not so outstanding. There was a lot of confusion during his era.

The regent of Dappa Pepple Alali was an ex - slave but was more powerful.

He conflicted with British merchants over trade and imprisoned-some of the British merchants.

King Dappa Pepple seized the opportunity to seize his full powers and persuaded the British to let Alali sign his deposition. Dappa promised never to touch British subjects who then became very arrogant.

The people supported Alali and accused Dappa of selling Bonny's ambition. Political conflicts continued between Alali and Dappa.

1854, Dappa Pepple - seized a British merchant ship in place of the payments they owed him under a treaty.

Alali seized the opportunity and persuaded the British to depose Pepple from his country.

A civil war followed between supporters of Pepple and those of Alali who were mainly ex -slaves, the war was won by Alali.

The British aware of Alali's hostility, never allowed him to become king instead a regency of four was appointed.

The government did not last for long, chaos and confusion followed until the British merchants called for the return of King Dappa who returned in 1861.

Bonny never revived her political power, under King Dappa.

Pepple power lay in the hands of ex - slave houses of Anna- Pepple led by Alali and Manila -Pepple house led by Oko Jumbo.

King Dappa died in 1866, and was succeeded by George Pepple who was a very weak character.

King Jaja Opobo.

Jaja was elected to the headship of Sonny, the Anna Pepple house of the city - state of Grand Bonny after the death of Alali who was the head.

He had been an ex- slave that is his parents were slaves who were largely neglected.

He was gifted, was popular in the interior markets and had a quick eye for the promotion and advancement of capable people and continued to build up the Anna Pepple group and absorb other houses.

The Manila house under Oko Jumbo conflicted with the Anna Pepple house. The Manila house was supported by King George Pepple.

Rather than engage in civil war, Jaja withdrew his house and established it at Opobo. Opobo was strategically placed and it cut off Bonny from its trading empire the Imo river. He became King Jaja of Opobo and declared a new state independent of Bonny.

Jaja attracted to his New Kingdom 10 out of the 18 houses of Bonny. Opobo soon became the most important state in the Delta.

The British Consul and traders in the Delta were both suspicious and afraid of Jaja. They tried to boycott trade with Jaja but failed. Jaja had plenty of palm oil, and a few companies - moved there.

1872, the British Consul recognised Opobo as an independent state,

Opobo controlled the Imo and Gua markets and this made her commercially prosperous.                      

Jaja monopolised the palm oil trade in much of the Delta Coast.

He was also popular in the interior and among the Iboland. Jaja like all African leaders was involved into the Europeans scramble

Hewit, the British Consul offered him protection which he doubted and rejected.

He wanted a clarification of what protection actually meant and whether it would not interfere with his own authority or with the land of Opobo.

The consul reassured Jaja of his independence on somewhat vague terms.

However, in 1867, the British interfered in an interne conflict and exiled Jaja to the West Indies.

The British then controlled the Niger without problems.