.Say President Tinubu Hinged Decision on Fictitious Claims
Thousands of Rivers women on Friday took to the streets to protest the recent declaration of a state of emergency and suspension of the state governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Prof Ngozi Odu and members of the state assembly.
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The women, who gathered under the aegis of Justice and Democracy, said president Bola Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in the state was a
politically motivated maneuver, aimed at undermining democracy.
They expressed their deep concern and totally rejected the move, which according to them was not driven by any genuine threat to national security.
The protesters also criticized the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ibas for overstepping his limited powers and exposing a “calculated power grab” under the guise of national interest.
The women questioned president Tinubu’s motives for imposing a state of emergency in Rivers State while ignoring dire security situations in Borno, Yobe and Kaduna, where terrorists have overrun entire communities and brutally murdered thousands of innocent citizens.
The women clad in black and armed with placards with messages such as “Allow Governor Sim work in peace” and “Peace is priceless, give peace a chance,” condemned the apparent double standards in Nigeria, where rules that apply to Rivers State, does not apply in other states.
Leader of the group, Dr. Mrs. Nancy Chidi Nwankwo, called for the immediate return of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who they claimed was democratically elected.
Nwankwo said: “The overreach of the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), is a glaring indicator of this political conquest. His actions, which go far beyond the limited powers of a placeholder, betray the impartiality expected of his office and reveal the real intention behind this emergency rule, a calculated power grab under the guise of national interest.
“We find it utterly confounding that the federal authorities in Abuja, relying on conjecture and manufactured narratives, would choose to descend with the full weight of force on Rivers State, deploying a sledgehammer to kill a fly, while ignoring the dire security emergencies ravaging states such as Borno, Yobe, Zamfara, Kaduna, Plateau, and Benue.
“In these states, terrorists have overrun entire communities, taken control of local governments, and brutally murdered thousands of innocent citizens. Yet, no such declaration of emergency has been made.”
In their protest letter, the women issued a passionate plea to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reinstate democratic institutions in the state.
They also demanded an end to the “unconstitutional military rule disguised as a state of emergency,” which they deem unjustified and unacceptable.
The women also sought the intervention of respected Nigerians, including former Presidents and diplomats, to prevail on President Tinubu to reverse this decision.
They specifically called on General Abdulsalami Abubakar, General Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, General Muhammadu Buhari, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, and others, to intervene in the matter.
“We call upon eminent and respected Nigerians—including former Presidents General Abdulsalami Abubakar, General Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, General Muhammadu Buhari, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, as well as distinguished diplomats such as Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, Dr. Emeka Anyaoku, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, Prof. Tanko Yakassai, Dr. Godknows Boladei Igali, Chief Victor Attah, and Senator David Mark, to urgently intervene and prevail upon President Tinubu to reverse this injustice and restore full democratic governance in Rivers State.
“The women vowed to sustain their peaceful resistance, demand for right to freedom, justice, and self-determination.
They also called on civil society organisations, human rights groups, and the international community to speak out against this assault on democracy.
