Ogona Anita
Tension flared in Rivers State on Thursday as hundreds of women staged a dramatic walkout from the “Renewed Hope Initiative” empowerment programme organized by the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Remi Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The event, which was billed to feature the presentation of empowerment items to 500 women in the state, turned chaotic when the wife of the Sole Administrator, Mrs. Theresa Ibas, was invited to speak on behalf of the First Lady. The moment her name was announced, the atmosphere shifted.
Chants erupted from the audience: “We want Valerie Sim-Fubara or Remi Tinubu to address us, not the wife of an imposter! We want SIM!
Eyewitnesses said the women were visibly angered that Senator Remi Tinubu failed to show up after they were reportedly informed she would attend in person. Even more upsetting for them was the exclusion of the Rivers State First Lady, Lady Valerie Fubara, from the official lineup.
“We were told the First Lady of Nigeria would be here. If not her, then the wife of our Governor, Lady Valerie Sim-Fubara, should speak to us. Not someone representing someone who doesn’t represent us,” one of the women fumed as she joined the protest walkout.
Despite efforts by the organisers to calm the situation, the crowd of women insisted on their demands and eventually exited the venue en masse, effectively grounding the event.
The protest is seen as a direct rejection of the political appointee structure in Rivers State and a strong show of support for Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his wife, Lady Valerie. Political observers say the incident reflects growing tensions over the legitimacy of certain figures aligned with recent federal interventions in the state.
As of the time of this report, neither Senator Remi Tinubu nor her media office has issued a statement in response to the dramatic protest.
