In a powerful show of solidarity and spiritual defiance, thousands of women from Bonny Local Government Area have flooded the streets of Bonny Island today, staging a prayer rally to demand an end to what they describe as an “undemocratic state of emergency” in Rivers State.
The protest, deeply rooted in both political conviction and religious sentiment, saw women chanting prayers and holding placards with bold messages condemning the current political climate under the leadership of retired Vice Admiral Ebok Ette Ibas, who was recently appointed Sole Administrator of the state.
Placards at the rally carried charged inscriptions such as:
“Wike told us Fubara was our project”
“Ibas must go”
“Give us back our Sim”
“Bring back Fubara”
“Rivers voted for Fubara, not Ibas”
“Sole Administrator alien to our democracy – don’t truncate democracy, uphold the rule of law.”
The mass gathering reflects growing unrest and frustration among many Rivers residents who believe their electoral mandate has been subverted.
The women, dressed in white and traditional attire, gathered at major intersections and open fields, lifting their voices in song, prayer, and protest.
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Organizers say the rally is not just about politics—it’s about reclaiming the voice and will of the people.
“This is a spiritual and civic cry for justice,” one participant told Ijaw Matters View Point. “We want our democracy back. We want Fubara back.”
Tensions have been rising in the state following recent political upheavals that critics say amount to a constitutional overreach.
Many view the appointment of a sole administrator as a breach of democratic norms and a move designed to silence dissent and override the will of the electorate.
As the prayer rally continues to draw attention across the region, calls are growing louder for the federal government and international observers to intervene and ensure the democratic rights of Rivers people are protected.
