Wike hosts suspended Rivers Lawmakers in UK amid ongoing political tension

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Monday hosted a group of suspended lawmakers from the Rivers State House of Assembly in the United Kingdom.

The lawmakers, who are currently in the UK for a legislative capacity building programme, were treated to a dinner by the minister.

This was made known in a post by Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, who stated on X.com, “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.”

Wike had departed Nigeria on Sunday, shortly after a private meeting with political associates in Port Harcourt. The lawmakers, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, had commenced the 10th Rivers Assembly Legislative Tour last Friday. Amaewhule noted that the international tour would expose the legislators to global parliamentary practices and improve their legislative performance.

This move comes just weeks after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18. In the wake of the crisis, the president suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Prof. Ngozi Odu, and members of the House of Assembly. To stabilise the situation, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), a former Chief of Naval Staff, was appointed as the state’s sole administrator for an initial period of six months.

The lingering political crisis in Rivers State is rooted in a fierce power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.