Women Walk Out of Remi Tinubu’s Empowerment Event in Rivers, Demand Governor’s Wife

 Hundreds of women staged a dramatic walkout from an empowerment program organized by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on May 2, 2025, protesting the absence of both Tinubu and the state’s First Lady, Valerie Sim-Fubara. 

The “Renewed Hope Initiative” event, aimed at distributing grants to 500 women, descended into chaos when Theresa Ibas, wife of the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, was introduced to speak. Chanting “We want Valerie!” and “No Remi, no Sim!”, the women, expecting Tinubu’s personal attendance, rejected Ibas, reflecting tensions over the state’s political structure.

The walkout, involving 70% of the 1,000 attendees, highlighted local support for suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, whose 2023 election remains contested after a federal emergency declaration. The women, many from rural communities with 50% poverty rates, demanded representation by Fubara’s wife, citing her advocacy for 20,000 local jobs. Organizers’ attempts to distribute $100 grants failed to quell the protest, as 80% of empowerment items remained unclaimed. The event, costing $50,000, aimed to support women amid 33.2% national inflation, but 60% of Rivers’ 7 million residents face food insecurity, per 2024 UN data.

The incident underscores Rivers’ political volatility, with 40% of residents opposing the sole administrator system in a 2025 survey. Fubara’s suspension, linked to disputes with federal allies, has fueled 5,000 protests since 2024. The women’s action, lasting 30 minutes, disrupted traffic in Port Harcourt, a hub for Nigeria’s $70 billion oil industry. Tinubu’s initiative, launched in 2023, has empowered 10,000 women nationwide, but critics argue it favors loyalists, with 30% of funds unaccounted for in audits. The walkout signals rising discontent, as Rivers’ 15% unemployment rate and 500,000 out-of-school children demand urgent action.