- Say Rivers Women Hold First Lady in High Esteem
By Kolawole Ojebisi
Rivers women under the aegis of Rivers Professional Women League, RPWL, has denied that their decision to stage a walk out on the wife of the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Mrs Theresa Ibas who represented the First Lady of Nigeria and wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was bankrolled by the suspended governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara.
The women accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, of spinning a narrative that will suit his ulterior purpose of casting Fubara in bad light by insinuating that his enstranged ally was behind their action.
According to the women they were misinformed that the wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Fatima Abass, was going to address them stressing that they jointly took the decision to walk out following the appearance of the wife of the Rivers sole administrator, Dr. Theresa Ibas.
The clarification is contained in a statement jointly signed by Nimi Fiberisima, Esq. President, Jennifer Boms Wolugbom, Secretary and Tambari Menete, Director of Publicity on Saturday.
The women said the minister was merely trying hard to “spin the narrative to soothe (sic) his purpose”.
The statement reads in part, “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.
“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.”
The women recalled that a similar event in Delta saw Nursing School students registered their displeasure in the presence of the First Lady and no one shouted blue murder against the governor or linked the action to the governor even though the students were mobilised by the state.
“Why are things always different in Rivers State just because Wike is a Minister? they asked.
“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.
“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.
“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,” the statement added.
RPWL’s reaction was prompted by Wike’s position on the association following its members’ action on Friday.
The women on Friday staged a walkout during the women’s initiative empowerment programme by the wife of the President, rejecting to be addressed by the wife of the sole administrator, Dr. Theresa Ibas, who represented the First Lady at the programme in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.
Wike, had in the wake of the development, described the women’s decision as “very disturbing and embarrassing.”
The minister spoke in a statement by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, had said: “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.:
