FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has slammed a group of women who walked out of an empowerment event hosted by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu in Port Harcourt, describing the protest as “disturbing and embarrassing.”
The incident happened on Friday, May 2, at the EUI Event Centre, where some attendees, allegedly loyal to suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, staged a protest during the event.
The women, said to include sacked local government vice chairpersons, left the venue chanting slogans in support of Fubara.
Their main grievance was that they wanted the governor’s wife, Valerie Fubara, to speak to them instead of Theresa Ibas, wife of the state’s administrator, who was representing the First Lady. Despite the disruption, the programme went on, and Mrs Ibas delivered the First Lady’s remarks.
Reacting from China, where he’s currently on official assignment, Wike issued a statement, late night on Saturday, May 3, through his media aide, Lere Olayinka.
“This incident is very disturbing and embarrassing,” Wike said.
“An insult on anyone representing the First Lady of Nigeria at an event is a direct insult on the office of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As a leader in Rivers State, I apologise.”
Wike criticised the pro-Fubara camp for staging what he called a “show of shame” and urged the governor to be honest about his intentions if he truly seeks peace.
READ ALSO: Rivers Women Shun Ibas’s Wife at Event, Chant ‘We Want Fubara’
“It is not enough to visit people and plead for peace. Those who genuinely want peace must work and act for it,” he said.
“These are the same people who claim to want peace, yet they sponsor individuals to insult everyone, including the president and his wife. How can you plead for peace while orchestrating actions that undermine it?”
He accused them of insincerity and warned that political games and public disruptions would only heighten tensions.
“All those shenanigans won’t bring peace. I am sure they know that because they are not sincere with their up-and-down pleadings,” he said.
“As for me and those who subscribe to my leadership, we condemn in totality that disgraceful conduct. We apologise to our First Lady for the embarrassment caused by a few individuals who do not represent the character or ideals of the Rivers people.”
The event was part of Senator Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative, aimed at empowering 500 women across Rivers State with training and support items.
The programme is in partnership with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Senator Tinubu noted that the initiative had already been completed in the North Central region, with the Rivers event marking the final phase of the South-South rollout.