The Rivers State Office of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) has refuted allegations that suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara orchestrated a protest that disrupted a women’s empowerment program organized by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu in Port Harcourt on Friday.
The disruption occurred during the RHI/Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Women Empowerment Programme, held at the EUI Event Centre in Port Harcourt, organized by Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s office.
In a statement released on Saturday, signed by Mrs. Tonye Briggs-Oniyide, the Rivers State Coordinator of RHI, the office expressed deep disappointment at what it deemed “an unjust attempt to drag Governor Fubara’s name into an unfortunate narrative.”
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“The attention of the Rivers State Office of the Renewed Hope Initiative has been drawn to a regrettable and misleading statement issued by the Media Office of the FCT Minister, which unjustly attempts to drag the name of the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, into an unfortunate narrative.
“The protest was spontaneous and bore no connection to the governor or his administration. To insinuate that Governor Fubara would sabotage a programme he actively supported and funded is not only illogical but patently false,” the statement read.
The Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) has issued a statement refuting claims that the walkout by some women at the First Lady’s empowerment event in Rivers State was orchestrated by the suspended Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
This statement comes shortly after FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s media office condemned the incident as “disturbing and embarrassing,” suggesting Fubara’s supporters were behind it.
However, the Rivers RHI coordinator clarified that Governor Fubara, despite being on vacation, had provided full support, both logistically and otherwise, for the planning and execution of the event, demonstrating his commitment to the Renewed Hope Initiative’s goals.
Mrs. Briggs-Oniyide explained that the program was proceeding smoothly with significant participation from women across the state until the disruption occurred during a speech by Mrs. Theresa Ibas, the wife of the Rivers State Administrator.
According to her, some attendees voiced their dissatisfaction, stating they did not recognize Mrs. Ibas as their First Lady and preferred to hear from Governor Fubara’s wife, Valerie.
The RHI Rivers office further criticized the comments made by Mr. Lere Olayinka, the FCT Minister’s media aide, as “deeply misleading” and an attempt to politicize a non-partisan empowerment program.
“The real mischief lies with external political actors who, rather than acknowledge the suspended Governor’s commitment to women-centred development, have chosen to distort the facts for political gain,” Briggs-Oniyide said.
She stressed that the women of Rivers State maintain a sense of unity and dignity, often setting aside their political affiliations to support initiatives aimed at improving their collective welfare.
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