The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Nigeria, Nyesom Wike, on Monday hosted suspended members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to a dinner in the United Kingdom, amid lingering political tensions in the state.
The lawmakers, led by factional Speaker Martins Amaewhule, are currently in the UK for what has been described as a “legislative capacity building” programme. The dinner, confirmed in a post by Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, took place just a day after the minister departed Nigeria following a visit to his political allies in Port Harcourt.
“Yesterday, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, hosted Rivers State House of Assembly members who are in the United Kingdom for Legislative Capacity Building, to a dinner,” Olayinka wrote on X.com.
Amaewhule had earlier declared open the 10th Rivers Assembly Legislative Tour of the UK, stating that the purpose of the visit was to equip lawmakers with fresh insights to enhance their legislative responsibilities.
The gathering has drawn attention due to its timing, coming on the heels of President Bola Tinubu’s March 18 declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. The president had suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Odu, and members of the House of Assembly amid an escalating power tussle between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike.
President Tinubu also appointed former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), as sole administrator of the state for an initial six-month period.
The UK dinner has stirred public reactions, with critics questioning the optics of such a high-profile meeting involving suspended lawmakers while the state remains embroiled in political turmoil.
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