Rivers Women Walk Out on Remi Tinubu, Demand Fubara’s Return

[Shola joshua]

Tensions erupted at the EUI Event Centre in GRA, Port Harcourt, on Thursday, May 1, 2025, when hundreds of Rivers State women staged a dramatic walkout during a women’s empowerment programme organized under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), led by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

The women, chanting “We want Sim!” and “We want Sim Fubara back!”, expressed their frustration over the absence of Tinubu and Lady Valerie Sim-Fubara, wife of the suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and rejected an address by Dr. Theresa Ibas, wife of the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.).

Watch the walk out video here

The incident has intensified the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, highlighting deep divisions over leadership legitimacy.

The event, intended to empower 500 women with various items as part of the RHI, drew a large crowd, many dressed in traditional double wrappers, expecting to hear directly from Senator Tinubu or Lady Valerie Fubara, the state’s First Lady and RHI coordinator. However, when Dr. Ibas was introduced to speak on Tinubu’s behalf, the atmosphere shifted.

The women, visibly angered, began chanting in support of Governor Fubara, who was suspended by President Bola Tinubu in March 2025 amid a protracted political crisis involving tensions with Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Viral footage circulating on social media captured the women exiting the venue, with some labeling Ibas an “imposter” and demanding the presence of “our First Lady, Valerie Fubara.”

Speaking to journalists, a protester named Favour Ekpeye clarified that the walkout was not a rejection of Senator Tinubu but a protest against the substitution of Ibas, whom they viewed as unrepresentative of the state’s leadership.

“We were told Her Excellency Senator Remi Tinubu would be here. If not her, then Lady Valerie Sim-Fubara should speak to us, not someone representing someone who doesn’t represent us,” Ekpeye said. Another woman added, “We want Sim Fubara back.

He’s our elected governor, not an administrator!” The protest reflects widespread discontent with the state of emergency declared by Tinubu, which led to Fubara’s suspension and the appointment of Ibas as Sole Administrator.

This incident follows a series of demonstrations by Rivers women in support of Fubara. On April 11 and April 24, 2025, hundreds marched along Aba Road to the Rivers State Government House, carrying placards with messages like “Bring back Fubara” and “Save our democracy.” These protests, organized by groups like Rivers Women Unite for Sim (RWUS), have condemned the “unconstitutional military rule masked as a state of emergency” and appealed to Tinubu to reinstate Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and suspended members of the Rivers House of Assembly. The women argue that Fubara, despite the political crisis, continued to deliver democratic dividends, including infrastructure development and timely civil service payments.

The walkout has sparked polarized reactions. Posts on X show strong support for the women’s actions, with users like @ChuksEricE and @General_Somto praising their defiance, while others, such as @Big_Sinudo, highlighted the chaotic scenes as evidence of growing unrest.

However, a counter-protest on April 14, led by Ifeyinwa Aguma and the Rivers Women for Good Governance, backed Tinubu’s state of emergency and Ibas’ leadership, revealing a divide among Rivers residents. Political observers note that the crisis, rooted in the power struggle between Fubara and Wike, continues to polarize the state, with women playing a prominent role in advocating for their preferred leadership.

Lady Valerie Fubara has previously represented Tinubu’s RHI in Rivers, notably presenting N10 million to women farmers in June 2024 and N50 million to 1,000 petty traders in September 2024, initiatives praised for boosting local economies. Her absence from the May 1 event, coupled with Ibas’ presence, appears to have triggered the women’s backlash, as they view her as the legitimate state First Lady.

As of May 2, 2025, neither Senator Tinubu’s office nor the Rivers State Government has issued an official statement on the walkout. The Nigerian Police Force has also not reported any arrests or incidents of violence during the protest, which remained peaceful.

The event underscores the ongoing struggle for democratic restoration in Rivers State, with women at the forefront of the movement to reinstate Governor Fubara. The situation remains fluid, with further protests possible as the political crisis deepens.

[justseyi]

First it was nursing students now its Rivers women, the first lady should stay one place

[Shekinah Brama]

Tinubu’s government is the worst.

[Author]

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