Edith CHUKU
Those agitating for the exit of Retired Admiral Ibokette Ibas as sole administrator of Rivers State are not relenting. It has now become a daily affair, as the citizens persistently display their disdain for undemocratic rule in the state.
Women from various local government areas and organisations in the state and Niger Delta region have continued in their demand for the removal of Ibas and the reversal of the emergency rule imposed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the subsequent suspension of Fubara.
Wednesday last week, women under the aegis of the Rivers Women Unite Prayer Group took to the streets on a protest to demonstrate their grievances against Tinubu’s decision, which they said was masterminding by the FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike.
Wednesday’s protest came just few days after a similar demonstration, where women in their hundreds declared both the emergency rule and the appointment of a sole administrator as illegal actions.
On Friday, April 11, 2025, another group of women staged a peaceful protest against what they described as injustice meted out to our state, demanding that Ibas must go and Fubara returned to office.
However, a counter protest was held on April 14, 2025 by a pro-Wike group known as Rivers women, who declared their support for the sole administrator and emergency rule imposed in the state.
That solidarity walk was countered by a recent demonstration on Tuesday, where women under the aegis of the Port Harcourt Township Pressure Group sent a message to Tinubu through another protest.
Their message was same; president Tinubu should as a matter of urgency, reinstate the governor of the State, lift the emergency rule for the peace, stability and progress of Rivers.
Among other demands is that the state of emergency declared by Tinubu in Rivers State be lifted. They are also requesting for the reinstatement of those they described as democratically elected political office holders and the house of assembly members.
In another development on Wednesday, the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC, urged its members in Rivers State to use the occasion of this year’s workers day to demand for the restoration of democratic rule in the state.
The NLC deputy general Secretary, Mr Ismall Bello, gave this charge in a statement, where he declared the theme of the 2025 Workers’ Day, commemorated annually on May 1, to be “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the Midst of Economic Hardship”.
Bello declared that, “given the peculiar circumstances of the subversion of democratic governance in Rivers State, the occasion does not call for fanfare, but rather a critical reflection on the need to restore democratic governance and to place the people at the centre of leadership.
“As a democratic organisation, it is imperative that we use the occasion of May Day to call for the restoration of democratic rule in Rivers State.”
NLC directed those in Rivers to “organise a peaceful rally within the premises of Rivers State council of the NLC, involving all affiliate members.
“The rally should carry relevant messages addressing democratic governance, the welfare needs of workers and the people’s yearning for freedom and liberty.”
Shortly after the declaration by the NLC, some supporters of Sim took to their social media platforms to post “Joy is Coming”.
It is believed that their post followed an unconfirmed indoor meeting between Fubara and Tinubu in London, which sources believe could lead to an end to the era of sole administrator before the initially planned six months.
In an interview with TNN, one of the leaders of the protesting women from Etche LGA assured that the protest would continue until Fubara returns to office.
The women also demanded to know what offense the suspended governor committed that his predecessor, who is the FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike, was demanding for an apology from him.
Ebony Nwuke-Ibe said, “we know that there is injustice in the state. In Rivers State we are living in fear, we are living in uncertainty because we are not aware of the next step that they will take. Why take us back to military boot, why is Rivers State an experiment to the federal government? It is wrong and we say no. That is why we leave our businesses, offices, because enough is enough.
“We will keep coming out, we cannot be cowed into a corner, no, we will come out till our voices are heard. Our men will not come out because we know that what they want is blood shed. Our governor is a peaceful man, is it not surprising to the world that a state like Rivers State is treating this with kids glove but when your leader say stand down, you stand down.
“We are not happy but our governor is a man of peace, Rivers people are upset, they have brought us to our kneels and we are not happy “
In her message to Wike, Nwuke-Ibe said, “we will tell him; in his time, we supported him, Sim should be allowed to lead, he was democratically elected, he should be allowed to rule, this is our stand.
“We gave Nyesom Wike our support, we rallied round him, Rivers women when it was time for his second tenure and he was almost robbed, we came out in our numbers and we gave Wike our support, Wike don give Fubara goat, make him commot hand for rope, he should allow Fubara.
“I asked before, Fubara has asked, Rivers people are asking, what is the offense of Sim Fubara? They should tell us what Fubara has done and what he is apologizing for.”
