Rivers Women Weep While Protesting Tinubu’s Emergency Rule

Some women in Rivers State on Wednesday stormed streets in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State capital to protest the imposition of military rule in the state.

The women condemned the declaration of state of emergency by President Bola Tinubu, saying there was absolutely nothing that warranted the decision.

The protesters could not control their tears as they demanded immediate recall of the suspended governor, Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, describing the governor as a peace-loving leader.

One of the women, a Nollywood actress, Ibinabo Fiberesima, expressed concern over presence of armed soldiers on streets of the capital city, saying, “We are all afraid now and we can no longer go to work because we have soldiers all around. This is not fair. We and the entire people of Rivers do not deserve this maltreatment.”

She added amid sobbing, “We found peace finally, and then today you come out and see army people driving around like there is something going on; this is wrong.

“We want peace, Rivers State residents want peace. There was a time i ran out of this state and now that I have returned, you (Tinubu) brought soldiers to torment us? This is wickedness,” she lamented.

Recall that President Tinubu had on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.

In a national broadcast, Tinubu cited prolonged political instability, constitutional breaches, and security threats as reasons for the extraordinary measure.