A group of women in Rivers State took to the streets of Port Harcourt on Monday, staging a peaceful demonstration in support of the state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu.
This show of solidarity comes just days after another faction of women, loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, protested against the emergency declaration issued on March 18, 2025.
President Tinubu had announced the suspension of Governor Fubara, his deputy Professor Ngozi Odu, and the Rivers State House of Assembly, following escalating political tensions in the state. In their place, retired Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, was appointed as the sole administrator.
Since assuming office, Ibas has suspended all political appointees and heads of government agencies, vowing to restore order and stability.
Women Call for Unity and Support for Federal Action
Clad in white, the women carried placards with messages such as “State of Emergency Is Constitutional” and “No Tribal War in Rivers State, No More Fubara,” as they marched through the city in a show of unity and support for the federal government’s decision.
Protest Leader Claims Emergency Has Restored Peace
One of the march organizers, Hon. Gladys Nweke, a former vice chairman of Etche Local Government Area, told journalists the state of emergency had brought relative peace.
“What we are doing here is a solidarity march in support of the state of emergency in Rivers State,” Nweke said. “Since the declaration, there has been peace. We no longer hear about killings and cult activities.”
Rivers Crisis Deepens as Political Divide Widens
The protest underscores the growing political divide in the state, with opposing groups either backing the embattled governor or aligning with the federal government’s intervention. As tensions rise, the state remains in a delicate balance, with uncertainty surrounding the next steps in its political future.
