Nyesom Wike Hosts Suspended Rivers Lawmakers in the UK for Dinner

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, met with members of the suspended Rivers State House of Assembly in the United Kingdom on Monday, April 7.

The lawmakers were reportedly in the UK for a Legislative Capacity Building Course when Wike hosted them at a dinner.

According to Lere Olayinka, the minister’s spokesperson, Wike had departed Nigeria on Sunday night after meeting with political allies in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

A video shared on X (formerly Twitter) showed the gathering, with Olayinka stating, “Yesterday, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, hosted Rivers State House of Assembly members to a dinner during their stay in the UK for a Legislative Capacity Building program.”

The meeting has drawn attention amid the ongoing political tensions in Rivers State.

The federal government has begun the screening process for candidates nominated for diplomatic roles in a bid to fill the vacant roles for its 76 embassies and 22 high commissions.

Nominees have been enjoined to report to the DSS offices nearest to them for security checks. Some have reportedly been contacted to provide personal education and work history.

Authoritative sources hinted that two former south-eastern governors, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu, have been screened for the role.

The source also said that Shehu Sani, who recently joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and former presidential aide Reno Omokri, are among the nominees who have also been screened.

The source also confirmed that former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Femi Pedro and former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, have already gone through the screening process and have been cleared for their prospective national assignments.

Recall that in September 2023, President Bola Tinubu recalled all Nigerian ambassadors, both career and non-career.

Two years into their recall, the presidency, in March 2025, said that their replacements would announced “very soon.”

Recently background checks were being conducted on the nominees, with intelligence collected from the screening shared with relevant agencies within the presidency and legislature.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, attributed the delay in appointing ambassadors on a lack of funds as foreign officials and other stakeholders raised concerns about the void in diplomatic leadership at various foreign missions.

However, with the ongoing screening exercise, the Federal Government may soon announce the names of the new diplomats and their portfolios.