Women in Rivers State, under the banner of the Rivers Professional Women League (RPWL), on Saturday have given reasons why they walked out of an event widely publicised that Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of the president would be physically present but which was not the case.
Breakingng.com had earlier reported how the immediate past Governor of Rivers State and the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike criticized the actions of the group who staged a walkout on the Nigeria’s First Lady, during an event in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.
Wike, in a statement released by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, described their actions during the First Lady’s empowerment event as “very disturbing and embarrassing.
READ ALSO: Wike slams women’s walkout on first lady in Port Harcourt
He accused the women of hypocrisy, saying: “It is not enough to be visiting people to plead for peace, those who genuinely want peace work and act for it. These are the same people pleading for peace, but at the same time doing things that are contrary to what they are pleading for.
“How can you say you want peace and at the same time, you are sponsoring people to insult everyone, including the President and his wife? All those shenanigans won’t bring peace, and I am sure they know that, because they are not sincere with their up and down pleadings for peace.
“As for me and those who subscribe to my leadership, we condemn in totality that yesterday’s show of shame and we apologize to our First Lady for the embarrassing conduct of those few women who do not represent the characters and ideals of the people of Rivers State.
“Breakingng.com gathered that the incident, which took place on Friday during the Renewed Hope Initiative programme in Port Harcourt, saw the women walk out after it became clear that the President’s wife was not in attendance. Instead, the event was represented by Dr. Theresa Ibas, wife of the sole administrator.
According to the RPWL, they were led to believe that the First Lady would be represented by Hajiya Fatima Abass, wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Their protest, they clarified, was not directed at the First Lady or President Bola Tinubu but was a reaction to what they saw as a breach of protocol and misrepresentation.In a statement signed by RPWL President Nimi Fiberisima, Secretary Jennifer Boms Wolugbom, and Director of Publicity Tambari Menete, the group accused Wike of deliberately distorting the events to serve his political interests.
The women said attempts to vilify them using Rivers State’s longstanding culture of peace and hospitality as a weapon of political manipulation had become commonplace. They expressed concern over Wike’s consistent involvement in the affairs of Rivers State despite his current responsibilities in Abuja as Minister of the FCT.
“We are miffed by this constant unnecessary hitting up Rivers’ polity. It is trite to inform the public that Gov. Siminalayi Fubara is not by any means involved or directed any of the Rivers Women to act on his behalf as to what transpired in Port Harcourt on Friday, May 2, 2025. The women are just organic supporters who do not want to be taken for a ride. Much as Governor Siminalayi Fubara is toeing the path of peace and embarking on reconciliation process, it does not translate to enslavement and/or insulting the sensibilities of Rivers people as being manipulated.”
The group emphasized that no disrespect was intended toward the First Lady or the President. They described Wike’s narrative as a deliberate mischaracterization of their peaceful protest.
“It is apparent that Rivers women did not and cannot walk out on the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu or disrespect her husband, President Bola Tinubu. Such a narrative is the imaginative spinning of Chief Nyesom Wike to blackmail Rivers people, as always. What people failed to understand is that political position is transient and in no time this phase of history will pass and all the actors will also fizzle out, some on the good side and some others on the bad side.”
They drew attention to a similar incident in Delta State where nursing students expressed dissatisfaction during an event attended by the First Lady without the fallout being weaponized politically.
The women questioned why the situation in Rivers was being treated differently, suggesting that Wike’s position as a minister should not be a reason for such narratives.
They reiterated their admiration for the First Lady and her efforts, stating that the walkout stemmed from misinformation and a breakdown in communication regarding who would be representing her at the event.
“The truth remains that Rivers Women hold the Nigerian First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in high esteem and couldn’t have walked out on her. The disconnect is that women were misinformed that the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu would be represented by the wife of the Speaker of House of Representatives, Hajiya Fatima Abbas Tajudeen, on the strength of which they happily mobilised and excitedly prepared to receive her. Unfortunately, as they gathered in expectation, they were shocked to see Mrs. Theresa Ibas, which in itself was improper.”
The RPWL condemned what they described as Wike’s tendency to overstate his role in national politics and his constant need to insert himself into controversies.
“It is therefore unfounded and preposterous for Chief Nyesom Wike to suddenly conclude, as always, to say the least, that Rivers Women embarrassed the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and by extension Mr. President.”The statement concluded with a reaffirmation of their loyalty and respect to the First Family, while issuing a caution against Wike’s domineering political posture.
“Undoubtedly, Rivers women respect and love Mr. President, his leadership and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and support her visionary empowerment programme, Renewed Hope Initiative, but the challenge is that often, Chief Nyesom Wike tends to be more Catholic than the Pope. He feels he is the only Nigerian that loves and supports the President most, and almost believes that the President’s breath depends on him. Let it be clear to all that ‘a tree does not make a forest’. Let’s heed the caution of the time, as time, indeed, will certainly tell,” they said.
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