Women protest against emergency rule in Rivers state

Hundreds of Women on Wednesday trooped out to protest the suspension of Siminalayi Fubara as Governor of Rivers State chanting slogans and demanding an end to what they perceive as an unconstitutional state of affairs in the state

Penpushing reports that the protesters under the aegis of Rivers Women Unite Prayer Group were clad in red attires and holding placards bearing inscriptions such as ‘Rivers state economy suffer under Ibas’, ‘NBA have conscience’, ‘Bring Back Fubara’, and ‘We are gagged’.

The group in a statement signed by Nancy Nwankwo and Vivian Ige-Elenwo, accused the sole administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas of deepening the political divide rather than fostering reconciliation.

“Nearly one month after assuming control, rather than fostering reconciliation among the political stakeholders, Vice Admiral Ibas has deepened the divide. His actions of dismantling democratic institutions and orchestrating policies aimed at achieving political domination serve only the interests of those who appointed him’, the statement reads

Penpushing further reports that the group equally condemned what it described as dictatorial tendencies of the sole administrator and Olugbenga Adepoju, commissioner of police in Rivers state.

“On Friday, April 11, 2025, we held a peaceful protest against the injustice meted out to our state. Shockingly, the police responded with force, deploying tear gas and brute intimidation in a bid to silence our democratic right to peaceful assembly’, the statement added

Penpushing also reports that the protesters accused the police of protecting some pro-Ibas protesters in the state few days after their demonstration, emphasizing that the police deliberate provocation and double standard aimed at suppressing democratic rights.

The women protesters argued that the emergency rule is crippling the state’s economy, with women and children bearing the brunt of the hardship, and criticised the federal government for failing to declare emergency rule in more volatile, terrorism-plagued regions, yet deploying over 10,000 police officers and military personnel to Rivers state for political intimidation.

Penpushing reports that the group demanded the removal of the police commissioner, Fubara’s reinstatement and redeployment of troops to areas with real insecurity, and urged the international community to intervene and press for the restoration of democracy in Rivers state.

The background, however, has it that President Bola Tinubu on March 18, 2025 declared emergency rule in the state, citing a protracted political crisis, and suspended Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers assembly for an initial period of six months.

Penpushing further reports that President immediately appointed Ibas, a retired naval chief, as the state’s sole administrator, while it is recalled that on April 11, 2025 a group of women in the state protested the suspension of Fubara, and the declaration of emergency rule in the state, while days after, another group of women in Port Harcourt staged a solidarity walk for the emergency rule in the state.

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