Rivers women have appealed to the former Secretary General of the Common Wealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former president Olusegun Obasanjo and former Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abu bakar to intervene in the crisis in Rivers State and ensure the restoration of constitutional democracy and recall of Governor Fubara.
The women under the aegis of Rivers Women United Group in a statement issued during their Liberation Walk in Port Harcourt lamented that the state of emergency imposed on the state and appointment of a Sole Administrator was not intended to benefit Rivers State.
“We, the women of Rivers State, gathered under the banner of justice and democracy, express our deep concern and total rejection of the recent declaration of a state of emergency in our beloved state.
“This imposition is not driven by any genuine threat to national security but is clearly a politically motivated maneuver aimed at subjugating our people and undermining our constitutional democracy.
“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 interet.
“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”, the statement partly stated.
The women contended that if the National Assembly’s intention was truly to prevent a breakdown of law and order in Rivers State that has remained relatively peaceful without recording any fatal incident, why has it failed to take even more decisive action in states where chaos and bloodshed are daily occurrences?
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“The unconstitutional and provocative actions of the Sole Administrator further expose the underlying political agenda at play. What we are witnessing is not governance—it is occupation. Not democracy, but autocracy.
“Today, Rivers people, especially women, are outraged by what is fast becoming a dual system of laws in Nigeria, one for other states, and another, unjust and repressive, for Rivers State. We reject this blatant political invasion and the imposition of emergency rule in its entirety”, the women maintained.
They appealed to president Tinubu to immediately reinstate all democratic institutions in Rivers State, including the return of the duly elected governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
The statement signed on behalf of the group by Dr. Nancy Chidi Nwankwo, Tamunobelema D. West and Cynthia Amadi said the women and youths of Rivers State
can no longer remain silent in the face of intimidation, repression, and disenfranchisement.
“We will continue to rise in peaceful resistance and demand our right to freedom, justice, and self-determination.
“We call on civil society organizations, human rights groups, and the international community to speak out against this assault on democracy. There is no credible security threat in Rivers State to justify this state of emergency. The narrative being peddled is entirely fictitious, crafted to validate a political takeover.
“Rivers State is the heart of the Niger Delta, a region of immense national significance. Peace has prevailed in our communities. We will not allow anyone to steal our voices or subvert our will. Democracy must be restored”, the women insisted
They carried placards with various inscriptions like, “End injustice and bring back our Governor” ” Is the law different for Rivers State”, “God of justice arise for Rivers State, ” Rivers women now live in fear”, among others.
