The political crisis in Rivers State has escalated, with a coalition of women’s groups taking to the streets of Port Harcourt in support of the emergency rule imposed on the oil-rich state.
Dressed in white, the women marched from the Garrison Flyover to the Isaac Boro Park, carrying placards with messages such as “State of Emergency is Constitutional” and “We Don’t Want Fubara.”
Leading the protest was Ifeyinwa Aguma, a former Commissioner for Social Welfare in Rivers and an ally of Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the FCT. The demonstrators expressed support for Ibok-Ette Ibas, the state administrator appointed by President Bola Tinubu, commending his efforts and urging him to continue his work.
Monday’s protest follows last week’s demonstration by women backing suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The suspension, along with that of Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu and members of the House of Assembly, came after President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers last month due to the prolonged political crisis.
Citing “security reports” and the aftermath of two pipeline explosions in the state, Tinubu described the state of emergency as “inevitably compelling.”
“By this declaration,” Tinubu said, “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.
He appointed Ibas to supervise the affairs of the state pending the resolution of the crisis in a move that has continued to sharply divide opinions across the country. But on Monday, the women protesters backed the president, describing his action as constitutional.
The governors of the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), have, however, rejected the declaration and have headed to the court to challenge the imposition.