A group of protesters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara to either dedicate his remaining time in office to governance or resign, accusing his administration of failing to meet the expectations of residents amid ongoing political tensions in the state.
The protesters, who identified themselves as members of the Take-It-Back Movement, a civil society group associated with activist Omoyele Sowore, staged a demonstration near the Rivers State Government House on Friday as part of nationwide protests marking Democracy Day.
Carrying placards and chanting anti-government slogans, the demonstrators expressed concerns over worsening economic hardship, insecurity and what they described as a prolonged political crisis in Rivers State and across the country.
According to information published on the movement’s website, the June 12 demonstration formed part of a nationwide protest against insecurity and economic hardship.
In a video circulated from the protest, one demonstrator directly addressed Governor Fubara, expressing disappointment over what he described as the governor’s failure to deliver on public expectations despite receiving widespread support during the political crisis that engulfed the state.
“My personal address is to the Rivers State Government and Governor Fubara. You people should help us pass our message to Governor Fubara, telling him that those of us who stood against oppression in this state are disappointed in him and that we expected more from him as governor,” the protester said.
The demonstrator urged the governor to focus on governance during the remainder of his tenure, arguing that residents had not seen sufficient progress in key sectors.
“Oga, you have one year to work for the Rivers people. Nothing is happening in this state. Rivers people have shown you love and solidarity over the years. During the crisis, they stood by you, but you betrayed them and protected your personal interests.
“They are saying you have one year to stay, and in that one year, work for them. If you’re no longer interested in working for Rivers people in this one year, please resign and go,” he added.
The remarks were followed by chants from other demonstrators calling for political change at both the state and federal levels.
In another video from the protest, participants were heard demanding the departure of President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The protesters maintained that their actions were driven by ideology rather than allegiance to any political faction.
“We must make it clear that the issues are not personal but ideological, and neither are we supporting any factions. Neither Governor Fubara nor Mr Wike nor Mr Tinubu nor Governor Seyi Makinde,” one of the speakers said.
They cited rising insecurity, economic hardship, inflation and the deteriorating state of public services as reasons for the protest.
“The level of insecurity in this country is too much. The level of hardship is unbearable. Children cannot go to school. Our hospitals are not working. They promised us electricity but cannot fulfil those promises,” a protester stated.
Participants also criticised the political developments in Rivers State, alleging that the prolonged power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, had undermined governance and stalled progress in the state.
“We cannot continue to pretend that all is well. And particularly in Rivers State, the state has become Wike’s state. Only he decides what happens in Rivers, and it is so pathetic that Governor Fubara has allowed Mr Wike to do anything,” one demonstrator alleged.
The protest comes against the backdrop of continuing public concern over economic hardship and insecurity across Nigeria, with civil society groups repeatedly warning of worsening living conditions and governance challenges.
In Rivers State, the demonstration also reflects lingering frustrations over the political feud between Governor Fubara and Mr Wike. The dispute, rooted in a struggle for control of political structures in the state, has led to repeated interventions by President Tinubu and contributed to significant political tensions within the oil-rich state.
The Take-It-Back Movement has consistently positioned itself as an opposition platform critical of both the ruling establishment and mainstream opposition parties, arguing that Nigeria’s challenges are rooted in broader systemic governance failures.
Efforts to obtain the reaction of the Rivers State Government were unsuccessful. Governor Fubara’s spokesperson, Onwuka Nzeshi, did not respond to telephone calls or a text message seeking comment as of the time of filing this report.
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