By Eric Moore
THOUSANDS of Rivers Women for Good Governance on Monday, hit the streets of Port Harcourt in support of the State of Emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State.
They also said their peaceful rally was to demonstrate their support for the efforts of the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), for restoring democratic governance, peace and stability in the state.
The women who dressed in white attire, said the declaration of state of emergency in constitutional and they welcomed it in their state.
Last week, anti-State of Emergency women wore black clothes and protested to the Government House, Port Harcourt, expressing their disgust for emergency rule in the state.
They called on President Tinubu to reinstate suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy and exit of the sole administrator.
The protesters declared their total support for the embattled governor, Fubara, saying that he was democratically elected, and suspending him from office by the president was an injustice against him and the state.
But, the women who backed emergency rule in Rivers State, during their peaceful demonstration, expressed their rejection of the governor’s reinstatement.
They called on Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), to investigate the bloated contracts awarded by the governor, adding that there is no tribal war in Rivers State.
According to the women, the President Tinubu sending Vice Admiral Ibas (retd) to restore peace and order in the state was divinely.
They said governance is a serious business and requires serious-minded leaders, saying it is not for people like the suspended Governor.
Inscriptions on some of their placards read: ‘State of Emergency is constitutional’, ‘Sole investigate the bloated contracts of Sim Fubara’, ‘No tribal war in Rivers State. No more Fubara’, ‘Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas, you are God sent to Rivers State’ and ‘Governance is a serious business for only serious-minded persons. No to Fubara’s.
Some of the women, Margaret, Peace, Choice and Nengi told the reporter that before the declaration of state of emergency by President Tinubu, they lived in fear in Rivers State.
Margaret said: “Before now, everybody was afraid in Rivers State because some individuals and militant groups were threatening to cause mayhem in the state.”
Nengi added: “There was serious apprehension in the state. There was uncertainty everywhere in Rivers State. But, the declaration of state of emergency by Mr. President has calmed down everything.
In her remark, Peace expressed: “You can see, we are all wearing white symbolizing peace and the return of peace to our dear State. So, we are happy because no one is threatening fire and brimstone in Rivers State again. We thank President Tinubu for saving our state.”