Billboards with the image of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike were vandalized on Saturday by angry Ijaw women from Kalabari in protest of his visit to the region.
Preparations for a lavish banquet held in Wike’s honor by Ijaw stakeholders under the auspices of NEW Associates included the installation of the enormous billboards at the intersection leading to Abalama.
Kalabari traditional leaders and local women, however, fiercely opposed the gathering since they had previously objected to an Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Eastern Zone conference that was planned for the same location.
Hundreds of ladies wearing black clothing and white scarves swarmed the roads near Abalama early on Saturday morning, promising to prevent Wike from entering the neighborhood.
Chanting protest slogans, the women blocked the highways and destroyed billboards featuring Wike’s pictures. “Kalabari, take your stand now!” was written on some of the banners they were carrying. “What would you like in Kalabari land, Wike?”
The FCT Minister’s security team had to break up the demonstrators in order to remove the barricades and let Wike’s convoy enter the town.
The big reception went according to schedule in spite of the objections. Enemi Alabo George, the chairman of the event’s publicity committee, called Wike a “friend of the Kalabari kingdom” and stated that the local chiefs, leaders, women, and young people were thrilled about his arrival.
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George said, “This event was organized as a grand civic reception and a service of thanks for the former governor’s contributions to the Kalabari Kingdom.”
Wike’s trip to Kalabari coincides with increased political hostilities between him and Ijaw-descent Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Concerns over the stability of Rivers State’s political environment have been raised by the two politicians’ prolonged disagreement.
