A coalition of women groups on Monday staged a protest in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in support of the emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu in the state.
Dressed in white, the women marched from the Garrison Flyover to Isaac Boro Park, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “State of Emergency is Constitutional” and “We Don’t Want Fubara.”
The demonstration was led by Ifeyinwa Aguma, a former Commissioner for Social Welfare in Rivers State and an ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The protesters expressed support for Ibok-Ette Ibas, who was appointed by President Tinubu as the administrator of the state following the declaration of emergency rule. They urged him to continue his work in the state.
Monday’s protest follows a similar demonstration last week by women who declared their support for the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara.
President Tinubu had last month declared a state of emergency in Rivers State due to the ongoing political crisis. He suspended Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
Citing security reports and recent pipeline explosions in the state, the President described the emergency declaration as “inevitably compelling.”
