Port Harcourt, Rivers State - Dr. Adaeze Oreh, the suspended Rivers State Commissioner for Health, has vehemently refuted allegations linking her to the disruption of the First Lady Oluremi Tinubu's Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) empowerment programme in Port Harcourt.
Her denial comes after viral videos surfaced on Friday showing approximately one hundred women walking out of the event held at the EUI Event Centre. The women reportedly protested when Theresa Ibas, wife of the state's Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, was invited to speak, as they had anticipated the First Lady's presence at the programme intended to benefit 500 women with empowerment items. The protesting women were heard chanting, "We want Simi" and "We want Valerie Fubara," expressing their apparent preference for the suspended governor's wife.
Unconfirmed reports, attributed to a group called the "Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation," alleged that Dr. Oreh orchestrated the walkout. However, in a statement released on Saturday, the suspended commissioner dismissed these claims as a "feeble and mischievous attempt" to damage her reputation and create division.
Dr. Oreh asserted that the allegations are baseless, false, and stem from the "sick imagination of rumour-mongers and conflict entrepreneurs." She challenged the "Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation" to provide concrete evidence to support their accusations, emphasizing the importance of basing criticism on facts rather than speculation or "puerile political agendas."
"I have neither sponsored nor will sponsor any activities aimed at embarrassing or disrupting the activities of the administration appointed by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to oversee the affairs of Rivers State following his declaration of a state of emergency on Tuesday 18th March 2025," Dr. Oreh stated. She added that since her suspension on March 26th, alongside other political officeholders including the Sole Administrator, she has focused on other pursuits and her doctoral studies.
Reaffirming her commitment to the progress of Rivers State, Dr. Oreh cautioned against "unsubstantiated wild claims" that undermine trust and hinder constructive engagement, especially during the state's "difficult and delicate time."
She urged everyone to prioritize unity and engage in "positive, solution-driven dialogue" for the betterment of Rivers State, calling for collective effort grounded in truth and transparency.
This incident occurs against the backdrop of significant political tension in Rivers State following President Tinubu's declaration of a state of emergency, which led to the six-month suspension of Governor Fubara and all elected members of the State House of Assembly. Since then, some women have staged protests demanding the governor's reinstatement and rejecting the appointment of a sole administrator.
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