Opobo Women, in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State have challenged their counterparts from Okrika to prove the allegation against Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenetari, that she insulted Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.
Opobo Women, under the auspices of Opobo Women Welfare Association last Friday said no one has been able to provide evidence that the Commissioner actually insulted Mrs Jonathan.
The group, in a statement signed by the President of Opobo Women Welafre Assocation, Amaopu Orubo Felicia Pepple, said, “we have watched and listened to the said rally video, and at no time did the Commissioner even mention the name of the First Lady, allude to her in any way, manner, shape or form.
The women defended the Commissioner, and vouched for her proper moral upbringing, saying “as a properly raised Ibani woman, she cannot and will not debase woman-hood for any reason”, adding that “it is not in her character as an Opobo woman of enviable and impeccable pedigree, who was raised in the finest of Ibani tradition, Hon. Ibim Semenitari understands the need to speak with word seasoned with salt, and as a Christian woman, she knows that it is God who ordains Kings and sets up kingdoms”.
According to the statement, Opobo Women might have ignored the baseless allegations against the Commissioner, but observed that they are on a mission not just to cast aspersion on her  pedigree but clearly to harm the Commissioner, who is also an Okrika Woman by marriage.
The group, in the statement, called on the Amanyanabo of Ogoloma, who received the Okrika women, Okrika Divisional Council of Chiefs, and all other relevant authorities in Okrika to protect their daughter (Mrs Semenitari) and see that the truth is unraveled.
The Women, who retraced the long history of harmonions relationship and productive marriages,  between Opobo Kingdom and Okrika said no group should  threaten Semenitari and expect Opobo Women to watch idly without responding.

Enoch Epelle