Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike hosted a dinner for suspended members of the Rivers State House of Assembly in the United Kingdom on Monday, April 7, 2025, drawing attention amid ongoing political strife in Rivers State. The lawmakers, loyal to Wike, were in the UK for a Legislative Capacity Building Course, according to multiple reports.
Wike departed Nigeria on Sunday evening, April 6, after meeting political allies in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Lere Olayinka, Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, confirmed the event, which took place as the lawmakers participated in training to enhance their legislative skills.
The dinner occurs against a backdrop of conflict between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and a pro-Wike faction of the assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule. The tensions, which escalated after the assembly complex was torched in October 2023 and a state of emergency was declared by President Bola Tinubu, have led to the lawmakers’ suspension.
Sources, including Politics Nigeria and Naija News, report the event was tied to the training program, though its timing has sparked debate given Wike’s influence and past disputes with Fubara. The Source NG suggested the trip might be funded by Wike, but this claim lacks independent verification.
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The Rivers State political crisis has drawn national attention, with the pro-Wike lawmakers backing Tinubu’s emergency rule. Meanwhile, Fubara’s administration has accused Wike of prolonging the unrest, though no direct evidence ties the dinner to these allegations.
Wike, a former Rivers State governor, remains a key figure in the state’s politics. It bears mentioning that the UK event underscores his continued engagement with the suspended lawmakers, though its primary purpose appears to be professional development rather than political strategy, based on available evidence.
