…Described it as; “calculated power grab”
A coalition of Women groups on the aegis of ‘Rivers Women Unite Group’ on Friday, April 11, 2025, staged a protest on the streets of Port Harcourt during which they expressed deep concern and total rejection of the March 18, 2025 declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The Coalition led by Dr. Nancy Chidi Nwankwo, Tamunobelema D. West and Cynthia Amadi, pointedly said that the imposition of a state of emergency in Rivers State was a calculated power grab under the guise of national interest.
They particularly denounced what they described as the unconstitutional appointment of a Sole Administrator, stressing that it was not driven by any genuine threat to national security but, politically motivated, and manoeuvred with the sole purpose of subjugating the Rivers’ people and undermining constitutional democracy.
The women stressed that the overreach of the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), is a glaring indicator of a political conquest as his actions, which go far beyond the limited powers of a placeholder, betrayed the impartiality expected of his office, but revealed the real intention behind the emergency rule.
Dr. Nancy Chidi Nwankwo said; “We find it utterly confounding that the federal authorities in Abuja, relying on conjecture and manufactured narratives, would choose to descend with the 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.
“In these states, terrorists have overrun 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 a breakdown of law and order in Rivers State, 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?
“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.
“Today, 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 State.
“We reject this blatant political invasion and the imposition of emergency rule in its entirety,” the women stressed.
The Coalition of women demanded the reinstatement of all democratic institutions in Rivers State, including the return of the duly elected governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
The women also demanded an end to the unconstitutional military rule in Rivers State, masked as a state of emergency, stressing that it is unjustified, uncalled for, and unacceptable.
The Coalition called on 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, Dr. Godknows Boladei Igali, Chief Victor Attah, and Senator David Mark, to urgently intervene and prevail on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reverse the injustice and restore full democratic governance in Rivers State.
They further said; “We declare that the 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, human rights groups, and the international community to speak out against this assault on democracy.
“There is no credible security threat in Rivers State 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,” the women said.
