What We Want In RIVERS Is Good Governance

• Mrs. RUTH DAVIES IBIAMU, Chairperson, League Of Women Voters Of NIGERIA

The ongoing political feud between former governor of Rivers State and now FCT Abuja Minister Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike and his political godson Governor of Rivers State Sir Siminalayi Fubara has generated a lot of standoff in the political space and women are not left out in giving their opinions on how best the quagmire should be settled between the duo.

On Monday 23rd of September, 2024 the Rivers State Chairperson and National  President of League of Women Voters of Nigeria, Mrs. Ruth Davies Ibiamu addressed a Press Conference at her Rivers State chapter Port Harcourt’s office where she called on Rivers state political leaders to concentrate on how best to unite and build a virile egalitarian state for all to live in.

“There is no need for our political leaders to continue to deepen the  political misfortune of the state, rather, the way forward should be how to proffer lasting solutions to avert future occurrence. Let everyone sheath their swords and put the interest of the state above personal consideration. This is the only way Rivers State can be put on the fast track of development” She said.

The Rivers born administrator, entrepreneur, cum Pastor in her statement congratulated the Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his inclusive tendencies in having Women as Local Government Councils Chairpersons among those contesting for the 5th October, 2024 Local Government Councils election in the state as this is in Cognisance of the 2006 National Gender Policy which was formulated to promote the 35 percent affirmative action for women involvement in all governance processes in Nigeria being part of the outcome of the 2005 Beijin United Nations Women Initiative. All the 23  Local Government Councils’ Candidates have some women contestants with Action Peoples Party APP having Mrs. Tonye Briggs-Oniyide for Asari Toru LGA and Dame Hon. Anengi Barasua for Bonny Island LGA as other APP male Chairman candidates have women as their Deputies and with most Female Councilors candidates in the 319 electoral wards including a renowned Real Estate guru, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer CEO, Lady Lois Realtor, Lady Lois Eze Ahiakwor as the Action Peoples Party-APP Councillorship candidate of Ward 4 Port Harcourt City Local Government Area-known as PHALGA.

The League of Women Voters of Nigeria NILOWV is a Non-partician, non-profit organization which aims to advocate gender inclusivity, promote democracy, educate voters and calls for social and political change in Nigeria “It is also geared towards the advancement of women in Power and inclusiveness of women 35%  Affirmative Action  in Governance. As a body interested in good governance in our dear nation, it becomes imperative for us to support any government that takes the issues of women in governance seriously, Rivers state not being an exception.”

The group identified the critical roles women are playing in representative democracy as their participation she described as a game changer for democratic stability.”When women take the reins, societies tend to become more just and peaceful. This is because women bring unique perspectives and experiences to the table, which leads to more inclusive decision-making, hence the importance of women in governance as key to the development of any nation.”

The pretty looking intelligent national Chairperson for League of Women Voters of Nigeria, Mrs. Ruth Davies Ibiamu holds Bachelor of Science degree BSc in Public Administration from University of Port Harcourt and she earned Master’s degree in Political Science and Administrative Studies also from University of Port Harcourt having obtained Post graduate Diploma in International Relations therein. She also obtained further certification as she studied Fashion Designing at the University of Arts, London, United Kingdom. Today she runs Ruthies Clothing Brand with headquarters at Lobito crescent Off Ademola Adetokunbo Boulevard FCT Abuja with high profile outreach at Old GRA Eastern Bye Pass by Hyper City Supermarket, Ogbu-nu-Abali axis of Port Harcourt Rivers State as she has an upwardly mobile clientele list including senators, Ministers, business tycoons and women of substance who patronize her services. Consecutively she was awarded Best Innovative Female Fashion Designer, United Kingdom by Passion For Africa Fashion, Liverpool, United Kingdom in 2016, 2018 and 2019. Mrs. Ruth Ibiamu is married to Chief Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, a frontline politician of Rivers State who was the first Rivers State Chapter Chairman of All Progressives Congress APC while former Governor of Rivers State Rt. Honourable Barrister Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi held sway as executive Governor of Rivers State from 2007 to 2015.

She is the publisher and Editor-In-Chief of RUTHIES, a regular Fashion related pictorial storytelling glossy magazine which was launched at Port Harcourt years back with high profile culture centric revelations of rich cultural values of women from various ethnic nationalities across Nigeria and the globe.

-Emeka Amaefula

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