450
By Myke Agunwa
As part of efforts to remain politocally relevant ahead of 2027 general election, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has treated the suspended Rivers State House of Assembly to a dinner in the United Kingdom.
Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, reported that the lawmakers who are in the United Kingdom for a five days “legislative capacity building” retreat, were also treated to a dinner by the minister.
He said, “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 shared on X.com.
He said that Wike left Nigeria to UK on Sunday after meeting with his political allies in Port Harcourt to meet with the lawmakers.
The suspended lawmakers, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, are in the UK for a legislative retreat which commenced last Friday. The retreat is to expose members to global legislative practices and enhance their effectiveness.
It was learnt that training on the first day, focused on “Legislative Dynamics in the Presidential and Parliamentary Systems”, took place place in Central London.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18 and subsequently suspended the governor of the state, Siminiailayi Fubara, his deputy Prof. Ngozi Odu and members of the State Assembly for an initial period of six months.
The President also appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), a former Chief of Naval Staff, as the state’s sole administrator to run the affairs of the oil-rich state in the interim.
It was also reported that the power tussle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor Wike, brought so much political tension in the state with 27 state lawmakers backing Wike while five were in support of the governor.
Pointblank News further learnt that the five members loyal to Fubara were not part of the retreat.