Rivers women march in support of state of emergency

Hundreds of Rivers women marched in white on Monday in Port Harcourt to back the state of emergency and Sole Administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas

[dropcap]H[/dropcap]undreds of women took to the streets of Port Harcourt on Monday morning in a powerful show of support for the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

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Dressed uniformly in white attire symbolising peace and solidarity, the women converged at Garrison Bus Stop at 8 a.m. to begin their rally.

The march, which gathered momentum along the bustling Aba Road, saw the women chanting solidarity songs as they moved towards the Rivers State Government House.

Their demonstration was in support of the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) as Sole Administrator of the state following the ongoing political tensions.

Organisers said the rally was organised to express collective support for the emergency measures and to affirm confidence in the leadership of the Sole Administrator.

The crowd, made up of women from various backgrounds and communities, carried placards and banners calling for peace, stability, and swift restoration of order.

This show of support came just days after another group, operating under the banner Rivers Women for Sim, staged a separate protest opposing the state of emergency and the recent suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The contrasting demonstrations underscore the deepening political divisions within the state.

The Rivers crisis continues to generate national attention, with the Federal Government and key political stakeholders actively involved.

Also read: Organised labour threatens action over state of emergency in Rivers

As tensions rise, Monday’s march adds a new dimension to the unfolding drama, highlighting the active participation of women in the state’s political discourse.

Quadri Olaitan