posted 11th April 2025
Rivers Women Stage Peaceful Protest in Port Harcourt Demanding Fubara’s Reinstatement
Port Harcourt, Nigeria – Hundreds of women took to the streets of Port Harcourt on Friday, urging President Bola Tinubu to lift the suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, in a passionate demonstration dubbed “Bring Back Our Fubara.”
The protesters, who described themselves as mothers and wives, gathered along Aba Road before marching to the Rivers State Government House, brandishing placards with messages such as “Save Our Democracy,” “Bring Back Fubara,” “Is the Law Different for Rivers State?” and “God of Justice, Arise for Rivers State.” Chanting songs of solidarity, they called for the restoration of democratic institutions in the oil-rich state, decrying what they labelled an “unconstitutional military rule masked as a state of emergency.”
The women’s march, which began with prayers at Isaac Boro Park, remained peaceful, drawing participants of all ages united in their demand for justice. Speaking to Channels Television, one protester expressed frustration over the ongoing political crisis, insisting that Governor Fubara has continued to deliver democratic dividends despite significant challenges. “We are a peaceful people and do not deserve this kind of injustice. The governor has been doing his job despite the distractions. What is happening now is not democracy,” she said.
Protest leaders stressed that their movement transcended partisan politics, focusing instead on safeguarding the democratic values of Rivers State. “We are here to defend our votes and the sanctity of our democracy. This is beyond Fubara; it’s about justice and the future of Rivers State,” one leader declared.
The suspensions of Fubara, Odu, and members of the Rivers House of Assembly followed months of political turmoil in the state. In response, President Tinubu appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas as sole administrator to oversee the state’s affairs, a move that has sparked widespread discontent among locals who view it as an affront to their electoral mandate.
The women’s demonstration underscores the deepening divide between federal intervention and local aspirations in Rivers State, with calls for reinstating elected officials growing louder. As the crisis persists, the protesters’ message is clear: they seek a return to democratic governance and an end to what they perceive as an unjust imposition on their state.
