“Wike Believes That The President’s  Breath Depends On Him” – Rivers Women

By Adesina Soyooye

“A tree does not make a tree, they tell Mr President”

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has been told that he does not have an exclusive right to President Bola Tinubu. The Minister was also reminded that he is not the only person in Rivers State who loves the President.

The reminder was extended to Wike by a group of Rivers State Women under the aegis of Rivers Professional Women League (RPWL).

RPWL was reacting to Wike’s apology to the First Lady over an incident in Port Harcourt on Friday when some women walked out the representative of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu at an empowerment programme for about 500 Women.

Mrs Tinubu was represented by the wife of the State’s Sole Administrator, Theresa Ibas.

Wike had blamed the incident on the Siminalayi Fubara, the suspended Governor of the State. Fubara has since strongly denied the allegation, and wondered why he would sabotage a programmer he not only supported morally but funded.

But in a statement signed by Nimi Fiberisima, Esq., RPWLPL President, Jennifer Boms Wolugbom, Secretary and Tambari Menete, Director of Publicity, the women explained that they were misinformed that the wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Fatima Abass, was going to address them.

They blamed Wike for turning what happened on Friday to a narrative to soothe his purpose”.

The women said the  peaceful disposition of  Rivers people should not be a tool to blackmail the people because it will be counter-productive.

The statement reads in part: “We are miffed by this constant unnecessary hitting-up of 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 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.”