Walkout: Rivers Women Accuse Wike Of Misrepresenting Facts

The Rivers Professional Women League (RPWL) has accused Mr Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former governor of Rivers State of misrepresenting facts over the walkout on the wife of the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Dr Theresa Ibas at an event in Port Harcourt on Friday.

This RPWL pointedly debunked claims by Wike that they staged a walkout of the Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

This was as the women said that they were miffed by the constant and unnecessary attempts at hitting up Rivers’ polity by Wike, stressing that it is trite to state that Gov. Siminalayi Fubara was by any means involved or directed any of the Rivers Women to act on his behalf as to what transpired in Port Harcourt on Friday, May 2, 2025.

The RPWL stressed that they were misled into believing that Mrs Fatima Abass, the wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, would be addressing them and not the wife of the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Dr Theresa Ibas.

Wike had accused the women of staging a walkout against the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s representative, saying that the development was “very disturbing and embarrassing.”

The RPWL on Friday, walked out of the empowerment program, refusing to be addressed by the wife of the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Dr. Theresa Ibas, who represented the First Lady.

Wike, in a statement by one of his aides, Lere Olayinka, said that it was not enough to be visiting people to plead for peace, adding that those who genuinely want peace, work and act for it.

Wike said; “These are the same people pleading for peace, but at the same time doing things that are contrary to what they are pleading for. How can you say you want peace and at the same time, you are sponsoring people to insult everyone, including the President and his wife?

“All those shenanigans won’t bring peace, and I am sure they know that, because they are not sincere with their up and down pleadings for peace”.

But, in a statement signed by Nimi Fiberisima, Jennifer Boms Wolugbom, Tambari Menete, President and Secretary and Director of Publicity respectively, the Rivers Professional Women League (RPWL), noted that Wike’s description of their walkout was quite misleading, disturbing and embarrassing.

The RPWL specifically said that Wike was attempting to “spin the narrative to soothe his purpose,” stressing that portraying the peaceful nature of Rivers people as a weakness to exploit has become common practice recently.

The women further said that it would be unfair and counter-productive to continue this “path of blackmail,” emphasising that Wike has been dedicating a significant amount of time to Rivers State affairs as against concentrating in his assigned duties, thereby exceeding his responsibilities as the Minister of the FCT.

The RPWL further said; “The women are just organic supporters who do not want to be taken for a ride. Much as Governor Siminalayi Fubara is toeing the path of peace and embarking on reconciliation process, it does not translate to enslavement and/or insulting the sensibilities of Rivers people as being manipulated.

“It is apparent that Rivers women did not and cannot walk out on the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu or disrespect her husband, President Bola Tinubu. Such a narrative is the imaginative spinning of Chief Nyesom Wike to blackmail Rivers people, as always.

“What people failed to understand is that political position is transient and in no time this phase of history will pass and all the actors will also fizzle out, some on the good side and some others on the bad side,” the RPWL said.

The women highlighted a similar recent incident in Delta State where Nursing School students voiced their grievances in the presence of the First Lady without any backlash against the governor or any connection made to him, in spite of the fact that the students were allegedly mobilized by the state. “The questioned is why is Rivers State always treated differently. Why are things always different in Rivers State just because Wike is a Minister?

“The truth remains that Rivers Women hold the Nigerian First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in high esteem and couldn’t have walked out on her. The disconnect is that women were misinformed that the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu would be represented by the wife of the Speaker of House of Representatives, Hajiya Fatima Abbas Tajudeen, on the strength of which they happily mobilised and excitedly prepared to receive her.

“Unfortunately, as they gathered in expectation, they were shocked to see Mrs. Theresa Ibas, which in itself was improper.

“It is therefore unfounded and preposterous for Chief Nyesom Wike to suddenly conclude, as always, to say the least, that Rivers Women embarrassed the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and by extension Mr. President.

“Undoubtedly, Rivers women respect and love Mr. President, his leadership and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and support her visionary empowerment programme, Renewed Hope Initiative, but the challenge is that often, Chief Nyesom Wike tends to be more Catholic than the Pope.

“Chief Wike feels he is the only Nigerian that loves and supports the President most, and almost believes that the President’s breath depends on him. Let it be clear to all that ‘a tree does not make a forest’. Let’s heed the caution of the time, as time, indeed, will certainly tell,” the women said.