Fubara Supporters Stage Walkout at First Lady’s Empowerment Event in Rivers State

A wave of political tension swept through the EUI Centre in Port Harcourt during the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Women Empowerment Programme, an event organized under the auspices of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. The programme, designed to distribute economic empowerment grants to women petty traders across Rivers State, took an unexpected turn when hundreds of supporters of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara staged a dramatic walkout. The protest was triggered by the introduction of Lady Patience Ibas, wife of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, to the podium.

The walkout, captured in posts on X and reported by local sources, saw women—many dressed in black—exit the venue en masse, chanting slogans such as “We want Sim!” and “Bring back our Governor!” Their grievances centered on the absence of Lady Valerie Fubara, wife of the suspended governor and the state coordinator of the RHI. Protesters demanded either her presence or that of Senator Tinubu herself, rejecting Lady Ibas’s participation. The unrest reflects deep-seated discontent among Fubara’s supporters, who view the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibas as Sole Administrator as an affront to democratic governance in the state.

Background: A State in Political Turmoil

The political crisis in Rivers State escalated on March 18, 2025, when President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the state House of Assembly for six months. The decision, justified on grounds of political instability, stemmed from a prolonged feud between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. The power struggle has polarized the state, with factions aligning either with Fubara’s camp or Wike’s allies.

Following the suspension, President Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibas as Sole Administrator to govern Rivers State, a move that sparked widespread controversy. Fubara’s supporters, including groups like the Simplified Movement and Rivers Women Unite for Sim, have accused the federal government of orchestrating a “civilian coup” to entrench Wike’s influence. Protests demanding Fubara’s reinstatement have become commonplace, with earlier demonstrations targeting the Government House and other key locations in Port Harcourt.

The Empowerment Event and Its Disruption

The RHI Women Empowerment Programme was intended as a goodwill gesture to support women in Rivers State, aligning with Senator Tinubu’s nationwide initiative to provide economic grants to female petty traders. The event drew a large crowd, including women from various local government areas, eager to benefit from the financial aid. However, the atmosphere grew tense when Lady Patience Ibas was introduced to address the gathering.

For Fubara’s supporters, her presence was a stark reminder of the ongoing political upheaval. Lady Valerie Fubara, as the RHI state coordinator, would typically have played a prominent role in such an event. Her absence, coupled with Lady Ibas’s appearance, was perceived as a deliberate sidelining of the suspended governor’s camp. The protesters’ chants and swift exit underscored their rejection of the Sole Administrator’s authority and their loyalty to Fubara.

Eyewitness accounts, corroborated by posts on X, described a chaotic scene as the women marched out, some holding placards and singing solidarity songs. While the event continued for those who remained, the walkout cast a shadow over the programme’s objectives, highlighting how local political grievances can derail even well-intentioned initiatives.

Diverging Sentiments in Rivers State

The walkout is the latest manifestation of the polarized sentiments in Rivers State. Fubara’s supporters have consistently rallied against the state of emergency, viewing it as an unconstitutional overreach by the federal government. Groups like the Simplified Movement have organized protests and issued statements condemning the suspension of elected officials. On the other hand, factions such as Rivers Women for Good Governance have expressed support for Vice Admiral Ibas’s administration, crediting it with restoring calm and advancing development projects stalled by the political crisis.

The divide is further complicated by the Wike-Fubara rivalry, which has split political loyalties in the state. Wike’s allies argue that Fubara’s governance was destabilizing, necessitating federal intervention, while Fubara’s camp insists that the emergency rule is a ploy to suppress their mandate. The introduction of Lady Ibas at the RHI event, whether intentional or not, reignited these tensions, turning a socio-economic programme into a flashpoint for political expression.

Broader Implications

The incident at the EUI Centre underscores the challenges of implementing national initiatives in politically volatile regions. The RHI, a flagship programme of the First Lady, aims to empower women economically, but its execution in Rivers State was overshadowed by local dynamics. The walkout also raises questions about the federal government’s handling of the Rivers crisis, particularly the decision to appoint a sole administrator rather than pursue reconciliation between the warring factions.

For now, Rivers State remains a tinderbox of political unrest. The six-month emergency rule is set to expire in September 2025, but without a clear resolution to the underlying power struggle, tensions are likely to persist. Fubara’s supporters have vowed to continue their protests, while the Sole Administrator’s administration faces the daunting task of governing a divided state.

Conclusion

The walkout by Fubara’s supporters at the RHI Women Empowerment Programme is a stark reminder of the deep political fault lines in Rivers State. What began as an event to uplift women petty traders became a platform for expressing dissent against the federal government’s intervention in the state’s governance. As Rivers State navigates this turbulent period, the incident highlights the need for dialogue and reconciliation to restore stability and ensure that initiatives like the RHI can achieve their intended impact.