Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has appealed to women to march in protest against the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the 2022 International Women’s Day following the rejection of the gender bills at the National Assembly.

The governor spoke at the civic reception organised in his honour by the Ekpeye ethnic nation at St. Peter Catholic School Field, Ahoada Town in Ahoada East Local Government Area on Saturday.

Wike argued that the APC-controlled National Assembly rejected the five gender bills that would have given women more political opportunities.

He insisted that the APC members in the majority were unwilling to amend the country’s constitution to give women political opportunities.

He said: “I hear on Tuesday there will be celebration of International Women’s Day. I ask Nigerian women, what are you celebrating? Other countries can celebrate their women, Nigeria cannot celebrate their women.

“Take that particular day, demonstrate against APC, which has refused women to be recognised in this country. Don’t go there and begin to dance, there is nothing to dance about until they recognise you. It is only when Nigeria recognises you, then you can dance.”

Wike said presently in Rivers state, all the vice-chairmen of the 23 councils are women and every local government has at least five councillors as women.

The governor said that he considered himself as part of Ekpeye land and could not ignore their developmental needs.

While thanking the Ekpeye sons and daughters, who stood with him in his political endeavour, the governor said though Ekpeye kingdom was long forgotten, God’s appointed time came and six traditional stools were upgraded to first class status.

Wike said his administration had fulfilled every promise made to Ekpeye people in terms of project delivery because he was determined to transform Ahoada into a city.

The governor awarded the reconstruction of the Ochigba/Ogbologbolo/Ozochi Road and the recognition of Ugbobi traditional stool to first class status in the area.

He said Ekpeye persons willing to contest the governorship position of the state should be ready to jostle for the office with others across the state.

In his welcome address, Chief E.C. Okorji said Ekpeye people were celebrating Wike because of the developmental projects delivered in Ekpeye land.

According to Okorji, the projects are the reconstruction of Ochigba road, internal roads in Odiokwu communities, dual-carriage Ahoada-Omoku road, siting of a campus of the Rivers State University, remodeling of Western Ahoada Country High School, the Zonal Hospital and upgrade of five traditional stools to first class status.

On his part, Senator Osinachi Ideozu described Wike as the voice of Ekpeye land, who had courageously changed the narrative of the people and given them a pride of place in governance.

Also speaking, Chibudom Nwuche said Wike remained an illustrious son, who had put Rivers State on national spotlight with evidence of good governance.

The Ekpeye council of traditional rulers conferred on Governor Wike the Eze Ugbabuzewe Ekpeye Olu of Ekpeye land (The leader who has uplifted Ekpeye ethnic nation).