Women Walk Out of Remi Tinubu’s Event in Rivers State

A women’s empowerment event organized by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was interrupted today when a group of Rivers State women staged a walkout in protest. The event, part of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), took place in Port Harcourt and featured Dr. Theresa Ibas, the wife of the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas.

The walkout occurred as Dr. Ibas approached the podium, with several women, supporters of the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, chanting ‘We want Sim’. One woman in the crowd explained the reason for the protest, saying they had expected to hear directly from the First Lady, not the wife of the Sole Administrator, who was appointed after Governor Fubara’s suspension in March 2025.

The political unrest in Rivers State has been a source of ongoing tension since Fubara’s suspension, which was enforced under a state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu. Following the suspension of the governor, his deputy, and all state legislators, Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas was appointed as the state’s administrator.

Women’s groups in Rivers State, particularly those supporting Governor Fubara, have been vocal in their opposition to the suspension, organizing protests and prayer meetings calling for his reinstatement. One such group, “Rivers Women Unite for Sim,” has held multiple demonstrations, expressing dissatisfaction with the current political situation.

The Renewed Hope Initiative, which aims to empower women through various support programs, continues to promote nationwide empowerment, including agricultural assistance for women farmers. The initiative, led by Senator Tinubu, recently saw Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara distributing N10 million to 20 women farmers as part of its agricultural program.