Third major demonstration in a month sees mothers, wives unite against “political injustice”
Port Harcourt erupted in a sea of colorful wrappers and protest placards on Thursday as thousands of Rivers women staged an impassioned march to demand the return of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The “Rivers Women United for Sim” (RWUS) coalition transformed the Government House gates into a vibrant arena of dissent, marking their largest gathering since Fubara’s controversial suspension in March.
Protest Highlights:
- Women carried symbolic items: brooms (for cleansing), palm fronds (for peace), and copies of the constitution
- Chanted solidarity songs in local dialects while dancing in coordinated steps
- Displayed creative placards: “Our Wombs Bore Leaders, Not Tyrants” and “Tinubu, Don’t Break Rivers Mothers’ Hearts”
- Formed human chains around key government buildings
Core Demands:
- Immediate reinstatement of Fubara and Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu
- Restoration of all suspended local government councils
- Presidential intervention to prevent “democratic backsliding”
- Independent judicial review of suspension allegations
“This isn’t politics—it’s maternal instinct,” declared 58-year-old midwife Mercy Briggs, who traveled from Opobo with 200 other women. “When you suspend a governor elected by 1.2 million votes without due process, you’re slapping every Rivers mother.”
The protest remained peaceful but tense, with police deploying water trucks along the Aba Road corridor as the crowd swelled. Organizers distributed white roses to security personnel—a gesture one officer told our correspondent “made it harder to see them as troublemakers.”
Political Context:
The crisis deepened last week when the Rivers Assembly (aligned with Fubara’s opponents) extended the suspension indefinitely, citing “ongoing investigations.” However, protesters allege the move stems from Fubara’s resistance to oil industry interests controlling state resources.
Presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale stated Tinubu is “monitoring the situation closely,” but women leaders want more decisive action. “We voted for Tinubu too,” said RWUS coordinator Anthonia Nwuke. “He must choose between protecting democracy or empowering those strangling it.”
What’s Next?
- Women vow to occupy Government House daily until demands are met
- Planned solidarity protests in Abuja and Lagos next week
- International human rights groups begin monitoring the situation
As dusk fell, the protesters lit candles in a solemn vigil, their songs echoing across the Niger Delta night—a poignant reminder that in Rivers State, the political has become profoundly personal.
Statements Resonating:
“We birthed the men making these decisions. They forget we can unmake them too.”
— Elder Grace Amachree, Bonny Island women’s leader
“Our wrappers carried these politicians as babies. Now they tear the fabric of our democracy.”
— Protest banner at Government House gate
