The minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, hosted the suspended members of the Rivers State House of Assembly in the United Kingdom (UK) on Monday.
In a video posted on X, Lere Olayinka, the minister’s senior special assistant on public communications and social media, noted that the lawmakers, “who are in the UK for legislative capacity building”, were treated to dinner by the minister.
Olayinka also mentioned that “Wike left Nigeria on Sunday night after visiting his political friends and associates in Port Harcourt, Rivers State”.
It would be recalled that a statement released last week by Martins Wachukwu, media aide to Martin Amaewhule, speaker of the Rivers assembly, stated that the purpose of the UK trip was to improve the lawmakers’ legislative capabilities.
Wachukwu explained that the five-day programme kicked off in Central London and was seen by the lawmakers as an opportunity for peer review and enhanced understanding of parliamentary processes.
He added that during the opening session, the legislators expressed confidence that the tour would boost peer interaction and provide meaningful insights to enhance parliamentary oversight duties.
Rivers State has been entangled in a political crisis triggered by a power tussle between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Wike.
The dispute caused a division within the assembly, with a faction loyal to Wike being led by Amaewhule.
At the height of the crisis in 2023, an attempted impeachment of the governor led to the bombing of the Rivers House of Assembly complex.
On March 18, 2024, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State due to the persistent political turmoil in the region.
The president subsequently suspended Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the members of the state assembly.
He appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice-admiral, as the sole administrator of the state.
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