Minister Nyesom Wike recently condemned the walkout by women at a Friday empowerment programme in Port Harcourt, which was organized by the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI). Wike referred to the incident as a disturbance, an embarrassment to the state, and a “show of shame.”
According to a report by The Nation, Wike blamed supporters of suspended Governor Siminilayi Fubara for the disruption. He issued an apology to First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, calling the walkout an insult to her and to the office of the President.
The empowerment programme, aimed at benefiting 500 women in the state, was disrupted during a speech by Mrs. Theresa Ibas, wife of the Rivers State Administrator. At that point, a group of women vocally opposed her participation, stating that they did not recognize her as their First Lady.
Despite Wike’s accusations, the RHI denied any involvement of Fubara in the protest. The state chapter of RHI clarified that the suspended governor had been a supporter of the programme and had provided logistical backing for its success.
Mrs. Tonye Oniyide, the RHI State Coordinator, argued that the disruption occurred solely due to the opposition to Mrs. Ibas’s speech. She expressed disappointment that the event, which had otherwise been a success, was being politicized.
In his response, Wike also urged Governor Fubara to be honest with President Bola Tinubu. “It is not enough to be visiting people to plead for peace; those who genuinely want peace work and act for it,” he said.
The RHI stressed that the event had been well-organized and the women of Rivers State were appreciative of the empowerment items they received. They called on the public to disregard Wike’s comments, describing them as misleading and an attempt to politicize the event for narrow gains.
Article updated 5 hours ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
