A coalition of women’s groups in Rivers State took to the streets of Port Harcourt on Monday, throwing their support behind President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in the state.
Dressed in white, the women marched from the Garrison Flyover to Isaac Boro Park, displaying placards with messages like “State of Emergency is Constitutional” and “We Don’t Want Fubara.”
Leading the protest was Ifeyinwa Aguma, former Rivers Commissioner for Social Welfare and a known ally of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. The group voiced their support for Ibok-Ette Ibas, who was appointed by Tinubu as interim administrator of the state following the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The demonstration comes just days after another group of women marched in support of the suspended governor.
President Tinubu had announced the emergency rule last month, citing a worsening political crisis and “security reports” following two pipeline explosions.
“By this declaration,” Tinubu stated, “the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months.”
The president’s decision has sparked nationwide debate, with opposition PDP governors rejecting the move and initiating legal action against what they called an unconstitutional takeover. However, the women protesters on Monday insisted the president’s actions were within the law and necessary to restore order in the state.
