Dinner in London: Wike Meets with Suspended Rivers Assembly Members

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, yesterday hosted the suspended Rivers State House of Assembly members for a dinner in the United Kingdom. The lawmakers are reportedly in the UK for a “legislative capacity building” exercise.

The confirmation of the dinner came via a video shared on X by Lere Olayinka, Wike’s senior special assistant for public communications and social media. Olayinka stated that the Minister traveled to the UK on Sunday night after spending time with his political allies in Port Harcourt.

The five-day UK tour for the suspended lawmakers had been previously announced with the aim of enhancing their legislative skills. According to Martins Wachukwu, the media aide to the Rivers Assembly Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, the tour is taking place in Central London and is viewed as an opportunity for peer engagement and gaining deeper insights into parliamentary practices to strengthen their oversight roles.

This trip to the UK occurs against a backdrop of significant political turmoil in Rivers State. President Tinubu recently suspended both Governor Sim Fubara and the attending assembly members due to the ongoing and protracted political crisis involving the governor and his political mentor, Minister Wike.  Adding to the complexity, the President has appointed retired Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the sole administrator for the state.