Hundreds of women from across Rivers State’s 23 local government areas gathered in Port Harcourt on April 11, 2025, for a passionate demonstration dubbed “Bring Back Our Fubara,” rallying in support of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara amid the state’s escalating political crisis.
The protest, organized under the banner of Rivers Women Unite for Sim (RWUS), saw women march through key streets, including Azikiwe Road, before converging near the Government House, singing solidarity songs and waving placards with messages like “Fubara Is Our Choice” and “End the Emergency Rule.”
The demonstration was a direct response to President Bola Tinubu’s March 18 declaration of emergency rule in Rivers, which suspended Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the state House of Assembly, citing a breakdown of law and order linked to Fubara’s feud with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The women, clad in colorful wrappers and headscarves, expressed frustration over what they called an “unconstitutional power grab” that sidelined their elected governor. Beatrice Awala, a former state lawmaker who addressed the crowd, emphasized the human toll of the crisis: “Women and children suffer most when peace is disrupted. Fubara has been a father to us, and we won’t let him be silenced.”
The protest remained largely peaceful, though police deployed tear gas briefly to disperse a group attempting to block a major road, prompting criticism from organizers who urged restraint. RWUS leaders called on Wike and the pro-Wike faction of the state Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, to prioritize dialogue and allow Fubara to resume his duties.
The Rivers crisis, rooted in a bitter fallout between Fubara and Wike, has intensified since late 2024, with disputes over budget presentations, local government elections, and allegations of arson at the state Assembly complex. Fubara’s supporters argue he’s been unfairly targeted for asserting independence, while Wike’s camp accuses him of flouting a Supreme Court order to re-present the 2025 budget.
The emergency rule, which appointed a sole administrator, has deepened divisions, with youth groups and civil society also mobilizing for Fubara’s reinstatement. As the women dispersed, they vowed to continue protests until “justice is restored,” signaling that Rivers remains a tinderbox where peace hinges on political reconciliation. The second leg of the protest is planned for next week, with organizers promising broader participation.