The suspended governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has criticized the Nigeria Police for their alleged heavy-handed response to peaceful demonstrations in the state, amid increasing political tensions. This comes after two separate protests held by women’s groups in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area and Ahoada East Local Government Area. The protests were sparked by the ongoing state of emergency declared in the state and the subsequent appointment of a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas.
In Port Harcourt, a group of women rallied under the banner of 'Rivers Women for Peace and Good Governance', expressing their support for the emergency rule. Dressed predominantly in white, the protesters carried placards with messages such as “Emergency rule is Constitutional” and “Rivers women need peace in our state.” They also expressed their support for President Bola Tinubu and applauded the declaration of the state of emergency, which they argued brought relative peace to the state. Mrs. Inime Aguma, a former commissioner for Social Welfare in Rivers State, led the rally and thanked the President for his intervention in the state's governance, which she said had been riddled with dysfunction.
On the other hand, in Ahoada East, around 200 women from Elleye and Engine communities took to the streets demanding the reinstatement of Fubara, condemning the imposition of a sole administrator. The protesters, who marched under the banner ‘Rivers Women Unite for Sim’, were met with resistance from security forces, including the police, who fired teargas to disperse them. The violent dispersal led to emotional scenes as women, including elderly protestors, were seen crying and struggling to breathe from the teargas.
In contrast to the peaceful demonstration in Port Harcourt, the Ahoada protest was met with a much more aggressive response. A viral video showed elderly women, one of whom fainted, as soldiers and police pushed the protesters back and removed their placards forcefully.
Fubara’s spokesperson, Jerry Omatsogunwa, condemned the treatment of the Ahoada protesters and accused the police of double standards, citing the contrast in treatment between the two protests. Omatsogunwa praised the women in Ahoada for their bravery and described them as "heroes of democracy," while criticizing those in Port Harcourt who supported the emergency rule.
The escalating tensions in Rivers State stem from a political crisis that reached its peak when President Tinubu declared a state of emergency and suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Oduh, and the entire state assembly. In their place, Ibas was appointed as the sole administrator for a six-month period. The declaration has been met with widespread criticism, with 11 PDP governors filing a suit at the Supreme Court, challenging the constitutionality of the state of emergency and the suspension of elected officials.
As the political crisis continues to unfold, the situation remains tense, with protests from both supporters and opponents of the emergency rule. The matter is now before the Supreme Court, with the PDP governors and the federal government preparing to battle it out over the legality of the President’s actions. The political future of Rivers State hangs in the balance as the state navigates this complex and volatile situation.
