RHI exonerates Fubara on allegation of sponsoring Walk Out on Rivers Administrator’s wife by Rivers women

EMMANUEL NLEWEDUM, Port Harcourt

The Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) has dismissed claims by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, alleging that suspended Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, sponsored last week’s walkout by the wife of the state Sole Administrator, Dr. Mrs. Theresa Ibas, by a large crowd of women in the state.

Recall that Rivers women on Friday, May 2, 2025, staged a walk out on Mrs Ibas during the RHI/Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) programme billed to empower 500 women in the State. The event was organised by the Office of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and held at the EUI Event Centre, GRA in Port Harcourt.

The women staged a walk out when the wife of the Rivers Sole Administrator, Dr. Theresa Ibas, climbed the stage to deliver a speech on behalf of the President’s wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

The angry women we gathered were prepared to welcome and receive the President’s wife, Senator Tinubu, who is the initiator of the empowerment scheme, felt disappointed when they saw the wife of the Sole Administrator climbing the stage to address them, saying that they were deceived.

The women were, however, seen chanting “Wife of a stranger can’t address us, we don’t know her, we want Siminalayi Fubara back, give us Sim. We want Valerie, we want Remi Tinubu to speak to us,”

But the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, through a statement by his media aide, accused Governor Fubara of being behind the disruption of the programme by the women.

Wike bemoaned the action of the women, describing it as an embarrassment to the office of the First Lady and President Bola Tinubu himself.

Reacting to accusations by the FCT Minister, Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiatives (RHI) in Rivers State, Mrs Tonye Briggs-Oniyide, exonerated Governor Fubara, saying that he had nothing to do with the disruption of the programme.

Briggs-Oniyide expressed disappointment over what she described as “an unjust attempt to drag Governor Fubara’s name into an unfortunate narrative.”

She defended Governor Fubara’s integrity on the circumstances surrounding the disruption of programme, and described the accusation by the FCT Minister as misleading and untrue.

She said; “The attention of the Rivers State Office of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) has been drawn to a regrettable and misleading statement issued by the Media Office of the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which unjustly attempts to drag the name of the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, into an unfortunate narrative surrounding the RHI/SDG Empowerment Programme held in Port Harcourt on Friday.

“Ordinarily, we would have ignored such political mischief, but it is important to set the record straight for the benefit of the public.

“Governor Siminalayi Fubara is a strong supporter of the Renewed Hope Initiative and remains deeply committed to its vision and objectives. Despite being on vacation, the Governor ensured full support, logistical and otherwise, for the success of the recent empowerment programme organised under the esteemed leadership of the First Lady, Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

“The event was progressing successfully, with the women of Rivers State expressing overwhelming appreciation for the initiative, until a disruption occurred when Mrs Theresa Ibas, wife of the Rivers State Administrator, was about making a speech. At that point, the women in attendance vocally opposed her participation, stating clearly that they did not recognise her as their First Lady and would prefer not to be addressed by her.

“To insinuate that Governor Fubara would sabotage a programme he actively supported and funded is not only illogical but patently false. Such claims by Mr Lere Olayinka are deeply misleading and appear to be a calculated attempt to politicise a well-meaning, non-partisan event.

“The Rivers State RHI Office finds it unfortunate that certain individuals, rather than appreciating the Governor’s consistent support for women-focused initiatives, would instead resort to propaganda for narrow political gain. Rivers women are known for their dignity and unity beyond political affiliations, and it is only when external political actors attempt to impose their will that tensions arise.

“The RHI/SDG Empowerment Programme in Rivers State was a resounding success. All stakeholders, including the women beneficiaries, were pleased with the organisation and outcome of the event. The only disruption occurred during the speech by the wife of the Rivers State Administrator — an issue which has nothing to do with the Governor or the RHI Office.

“We therefore urge the public to disregard the unsubstantiated statements made by Mr Olayinka. His comments are not only baseless but betray a lack of understanding of the values and dynamics of Rivers State.

“We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to His Excellency, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, for his unwavering support and commitment to the success of this programme and to the empowerment of the women of Rivers State”.

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