A women’s empowerment programme held in Port Harcourt on Friday took an unexpected turn. Several attendees staged a walkout, demanding the reinstatement of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The event, part of the Renewed Hope Initiative championed by First Lady Remi Tinubu in partnership with the presidential adviser on Sustainable Development Goals, was designed to distribute empowerment materials to women across the state.
Tensions flared when Theresa Ibas, wife of the state’s sole administrator, Ibok-Ette Ibas, was invited to speak on behalf of the First Lady. Her appearance triggered a protest, with women chanting, “Bring back Fubara, we don’t know Ibas,” and “We want Sim.”
The protest moved outside the venue while the event proceeded indoors, with Ibas’ wife continuing her address uninterrupted.
What you should
President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers on March 18, citing an ongoing political impasse. He suspended Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and the entire state assembly for six months.
In their place, Tinubu appointed retired naval officer Ibok-Ette Ibas as sole administrator, who subsequently dismissed all Fubara-appointed political officeholders.
The move has drawn criticism from various stakeholders, with protests demanding Fubara’s return to office.
