A group of angry Ijaw women of Kalabari extraction have destroyed billboards bearing the image of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in protest against his visit to the community.
In preparations for the grand reception organized in Wike’s honor, the stakeholders under the platform of NEW Associates installed a large billboards at the junction leading to Abalama
The event faced strong resistance as Kalabari traditional rulers and local women, who had earlier opposed a scheduled Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Eastern Zone meeting at the same venue.
In the early hours of Saturday, hundreds of women, donning lack attire with white scarves, stormed the roads leading to Abalama, vowing to block Wike’s entry into the community.
The women who blocked the roads and tore down billboards bearing Wike’s images held placards that read, “Kalabari, take your stand now!” “Wike, what do you want in Kalabari land?”
Reports indicated that security details accompanying the FCT Minister cleared the barricades used to block the road, as they disperse the protesters, before the minister’s convoy made entry into the town.
Despite the protests, the grand reception proceeded as planned. The Chairman of the Publicity Committee for the event, Enemi Alabo George, described Wike as a “friend of the Kalabari kingdom” and said that local chiefs, leaders, women, and youths were excited about his visit.
“This event was arranged as a thanksgiving service and a grand civic reception in honour of the former governor for his contributions to the Kalabari Kingdom,” George stated.