Opinion
Wike And Women’s Political Participation
As Mr. Project reads out an account of his stewardship in Rivers State come May 29, 2023, so much would be said about the flyovers, numerous roads, university education, the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, and so many other achievements, which may be typical of every good government, but his role in cementing a place for Rivers women in politics can never be forgotten in a hurry.
Hstory would remember him kindly for giving Rivers women a voice at every level where decision is made in the state. Governor Wike’s grassroots politics and politics of inclusion have given every segment of Rivers State a seat at the table. Our political lingo, it could be said that the women of Rivers State have been carried along since May 29, 2015, when Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo was sworn in as the first female Deputy Governor of Rivers State.
As governor and the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State, Wike has the enabling environment for Rivers women in politics to thrive. He made clear his disposition to women in politics when he chose Dr. Banigo as his running mate in 2014. For some Rivers women, this gesture was too good to be true. But it was, and it has been our reality in the past seven years. Since 2015, Rivers women have smashed many glass ceilings.
Rivers State has its first female Chief Judge, women have occupied the office of Vice Chairman in all 23 local government areas of the state; and Chairmen of at least two local government areas, including Bonny Local Government currently. In stark opposite to President Buhari and the current National Assembly’s disdain for the role of women in politics, Governor Wike took a stand that Rivers women must have adequate representation. Based on his understanding of Nigerian politics, the governor was aware that on their own, Rivers women are unable to navigate the current political swamp and survive. His comments when the gender bills were rejected by the National Assembly revealed his heart and support for the political prominence of women. According to the governor, what has been achieved in Rivers State is a product of deliberate policy implementation by the PDP leadership in the state. He said, “APC controls the National Assembly. If Mr. President was in support of this, there is no way they will disgrace women in the National Assembly. Such shameful thing.”
“Today, in this State, all 23 vice chairmen are women. Today, in this State. We said we must have five women as councilors in each local government. It is a matter of policy and it is leadership,” he stated.
Keen observers are shocked at the current state of women’s participation in Nigerian politics. The level is unbelievable as compared to other African countries. According to a report recently published by Gender Strategy Advancement Initiative (GSAI), women’s participation is only 6.7 percent in Nigeria, a shortfall of 15 percent from the global average of 22.5 percent, and the Africa regional average of 23.4 percent, and the West Africa sub-regional average of 15 percent. It is an irony that African countries with less educated women populations have better women participation than the giant of Africa with its armada of amazons, and female trailblazers in every field. This sorry state, according to most political pundits is a result of the monetisation and the mercantile nature of Nigerian politics. Nigerian women cannot hire thugs or doll out hard currency to purchase political positions in party primaries.
The recent primaries of the two major political parties in the country were a case in point. It became evident that, so long as Nigerian politics acknowledges the primordial state of internal democracy in political parties, no Nigerian woman could ever become governor or president. The current political atmosphere makes the non-passage of the gender bills by National Assembly most regrettable. The current Senate has only eight women out of 109 senators, while the House of Representatives has an unjustifiably 13 women out of a total of 306 members. It is worthy of note that a Rivers woman is among the eight female senators; and hopefully, the current Deputy Governor will win her senatorial race next year to continue the tradition.
The non-passage of the gender bills was the loss of a rare opportunity to bridge the gender gap and to show a semblance of progress on the journey of gender equity. The 35 percent affirmative action is supposed to play its role in our polity like the Federal Character Commission does to foster national integration in making sure that every region of the country has equal representation in the functioning of government and its agencies.
Speaking at a two-day capacity-building workshop at Abuja recently, the Executive Director of GSAI, Ms. Adaora Onyinchere, wondered why a country where women represented 49.2 percent of the population makes no deliberate effort to enshrine gender inclusion policies. According to her, “Statistics of women from 1999 to date both in governance, in politics and the way government has tailored their implementation of gender budget has totally been null and void. It is a serious problem and the need to evaluate and look at what government has done, is very important.”
“From our investigations, there is no sense of duty to women’s inclusion at the community level. So it seems as if there’s not enough effective implementation of policies at the grassroots.”
From all indications, the next dispensation might reveal a marked retrogression since 1999 at the national level. However, in Rivers State, the reverse would be the case, because Governor Wike has given the women folk in the State a share of the political pie that can only be improved on. It is now certain that if PDP wins the next gubernatorial election in Rivers State, a woman will be the next deputy governor. And, her profile should encourage all young Rivers women to be the best in whatever field of endeavor they find themselves.
By: Raphael Pepple
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land?”
In a swift reaction, The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) decried and strongly condemned the invasion by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In his denunciation, MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply troubling, warning against a recurrence of the violence experienced in Benue State. “The killing of yesterday is bad and very unfortunate. We are getting preliminary information about how the herders gained access to the farmland, and it appears some hoodlums may be collecting money and granting access illegally.”
He called on the Hausa community in Rivers State to intervene swiftly to prevent further attacks.
“We want the Hausa community in Rivers State to take urgent action to ensure these issues are resolved”.
But will such appeal and requests end the violent disposition of the Fulani herdsmen? It is not saying something new that the escalating threat and breach of peace across the country by the Fulani herdsmen or those suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, leaves much to be desired in a country that is bedevilled by multi-dimensional challenges and hydra-headed problems.
Some upland Local Government Areas of Rivers State, such as Etche, Omuma, Emohua, Ikwerre, Oyigbo, Abua, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, have severally recounted their ordeals, as herdsmen invaded farmlands, destroyed crops, raped female farmers and killed protestant residents.
Again the wanton destruction of lives and properties which no doubt has overwhelmed the Nigerian Police, makes the clamour for State Police, indispensable. The National Assembly should consider the amendment of the Constitution to allow States to have their Statutory policing agencies.
As insurgency has risen to an all time high in the country were killings has now grown to be a normal daily activity in some part of the nation it may not be safe to say that Nigeria still practices democracy.
Several massacres coming from the Boko Haram and the herdsmen amongst all other insurgencies which have led to the destruction of homes and killing, burning of communities especially in the northern part of the country. All these put together are result of the ethnic battles that are fought between the tribes of Nigeria and this can be witnessed in Benue State where herders and farmers have been in constant clashes for ages. They have experienced nothing but casualties and unrest.
In the month of June 13-14, the Yelwata attack at the Guma Local Government Area by suspected gunmen or herdsmen who stormed the houses of innocent IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) claiming the lives of families, both adults and children estimated to be 200 victims. They were all burnt alive by these unknown gunmen.
This has been recorded as one of the deadliest insurgencies that had happened in recent years. Some security personnel that were trying to fight the unknown gunmen also lost their lives.
Prior to the Yelewata attack, two days before the happening, similar conflict took place in Makurdi on June 11, 2025. 25 people were killed in the State. Even in Plateau State and the Southern Kaduna an attack also took place in the month of June.
All other states that make up the Middle Belt have been experiencing the farmers/herders clash for years now and it has persisted up till recent times, claiming lives of families and children, homes and lands, escalating in 2025 with coordinated assaults.
Various authorities and other villagers who fled for safety also blamed the herdsmen in the State for the attack that happened in Yelwata community.
Ehebha God’stime is an Intern with The Tide.