Omiete Joseph
Women in Rivers State on Friday, defied Police barricades and protest against the state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu in the State.
The angry women in the walk to liberate Rivers from the state of emergency to restore the displaced democratic rule, matched along Aba Road from Isaac Boro Park to Garrison Junction to register their grievances.
The protest under the banner of Rivers Women Unite Prayer Group was led by Dr. Nancy Chidi Nwankwo, Tamunobelema D. West and Cynthia Amadi.
In a statement of the their position on the current state of Rivers, the women called on President Tinubu to urgently lift the emergency rule and restore the democratically elected governor of the State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara
They asserted, “Women of Rivers, gathered for justice and democracy, and express total rejection of the state of emergency declared over our beloved state.
“This imposition is not driven by any genuine threat to national security but clearly a politically motivated maneuver aimed at subjugating our people and undermining our democracy.
They asserted that, “The overreach of the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), is glaring indicator of the political conquest. His actions, which go far beyond the limited powers of a placeholder, betray the impartiality expected of his office and reveal the real intention behind this emergency rule, a calculated power grab under the guise of national interest.
According to them, “We find it utterly confounding that the federal authorities in Abuja, relying on conjecture and manufactured narratives, would choose to descend with full weight of force on Rivers State, deploying a sledgehammer to kill a fly, while ignoring the dire security emergencies ravaging states such as Borno, Yobe, Zamfara, Kaduna, Plateau, and Benue.
Their statement further noted that, “In these states, terrorists have overran entire communities, taken control of local governments, and brutally murdered thousands of innocent citizens. Yet, no such declaration of emergency has been made.
“If the National Assembly’s intention was truly to prevent breakdown of law and order in Rivers, a state that has remained relatively peaceful and has recorded no fatal incident, why has it failed to take even more decisive action in states where chaos and bloodshed are daily occurrences?
They lamented that, “The unconstitutional and provocative actions of the Sole Administrator further expose the underlying political agenda at play. What we are witnessing is not governance. it is occupation. Not democracy, but autocracy.
“Rivers people, especially women, are outraged by what is fast becoming a dual system of laws in Nigeria, one for other states, and another, unjust and repressive, for Rivers. We reject this blatant political invasion and the imposition of emergency rule in its entirety.”
In their demands over the situation, Rivers women, as mothers and wives, “Appeal to Mr President to immediately reinstate all democratic institutions in Rivers State, including return of duly elected Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
“We demand an end to this unconstitutional military rule in Rivers State, masked as a state of emergency. It is unjustified, uncalled for, and unacceptable.
“We call upon eminent and respected Nigerians, including former Presidents General Abdulsalami Abubakar, General Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, General Muhammadu Buhari, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, as well as distinguished diplomats such as Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, Dr. Emeka Anyaoku, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, Prof. Tanko Yakassai, Dr. Godknows Boladei Igali, Chief Victor Attah, and Sen David Mark, to urgently intervene and prevail upon President Tinubu to reverse this injustice and restore full democratic governance in Rivers.
“Women and youths of Rivers State can no longer remain silent in the face of intimidation, repression, and disenfranchisement. We will continue to rise in peaceful resistance and demand our right to freedom, justice, and self-determination.
“We call on civil society organizations, rights groups and the international community to speak out against this assault on democracy. There is no credible security threat in Rivers to justify this state of emergency. The narrative being peddled is entirely fictitious, crafted to validate a political takeover.
“Rivers State is the heart of the Niger Delta, a region of immense national significance. Peace has prevailed in our communities. We will not allow anyone to steal our voices or subvert our will. Democracy must be restored.”