By Deborah Nnamdi
On Monday, a group of women in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, held a peaceful demonstration in support of the recently declared state of emergency.
Clad in white attire, the women assembled at the Garrison Bus Stop in the city center from 8 a.m. to commence the rally. They marched along Aba Road, singing solidarity songs in support of the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), and proceeded toward the Government House in Port Harcourt.
This protest comes in contrast to a previous demonstration held last week by hundreds of women under the banner of “Rivers Women for Sim,” who opposed the state of emergency and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency on March 18 in response to the ongoing political turmoil in the oil-rich state. As part of the directive, Governor Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly were suspended for an initial period of six months. Vice Admiral Ibas, a retired naval officer, was appointed to oversee the state’s affairs during this period.