Suspended Rivers Lawmakers Jet Off to UK for Legislative Tour Led by Speaker Amaewhule [PICS]

 

Amid the swirling political drama engulfing the Rivers State House of Assembly, the suspended lawmakers, under the leadership of Speaker Martins Amaewhule, have embarked on a legislative tour of the United Kingdom. The group’s departure from Nigeria has stirred both interest and scrutiny, coming at a time when their political status remains contentious back home.

According to a statement released by Martins Wachukwu, the Special Assistant on Media to Speaker Amaewhule, the tour was officially flagged off on Friday in London. The event marked the beginning of what has been dubbed the "10th Rivers Assembly Legislative Tour of the United Kingdom."

Despite their current suspension and ongoing tensions in Rivers State politics, Amaewhule and his group of lawmakers have described the UK tour as an opportunity for growth and international exposure. During the opening ceremony held in Central London, the Speaker emphasized the need for legislators to gain global perspectives in order to enhance their legislative responsibilities and governance back home.

“This tour is not just symbolic; it’s strategic. Our aim is to explore comparative legislative systems and bring back ideas that can refine our processes,” Amaewhule stated. He underscored the importance of studying both presidential and parliamentary systems as part of their five-day program, themed “Legislative Dynamics in the Presidential and Parliamentary Systems.”

The event drew participation from principal officers and several members of the House, all of whom voiced enthusiasm about the prospects of the tour. They reiterated their belief that engagement with other legislative bodies could provide a foundation for meaningful peer learning and ultimately strengthen oversight mechanisms in Rivers State.

One lawmaker, who preferred to remain anonymous due to the fragile political climate, remarked: “This experience will broaden our perspectives. We need to see what works elsewhere to fix what isn’t working at home.”

The legislative tour is expected to include study visits to several key British parliamentary institutions, closed-door sessions with governance experts, and interactive workshops focusing on legislative reforms, checks and balances, and constituency engagement strategies.

However, not everyone back home is impressed. Critics have questioned the timing and optics of the trip, especially given the lawmakers’ suspended status and the political fracas between the Amaewhule-led group and factions loyal to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Some see the trip as a veiled political maneuver or even a strategic retreat from the heat of local governance disputes.

Political analyst Kelechi Opara noted, “This tour may be beneficial in terms of exposure, but let’s not pretend it’s happening in a vacuum. These lawmakers are entangled in a deeply polarizing political battle, and any move they make now carries heavy symbolism.”

Nonetheless, for the lawmakers in London, the focus—at least outwardly—is on professional development and legislative benchmarking. The delegation appears determined to project the trip as a serious institutional engagement, not a political escape.

Whether or not the UK tour yields tangible legislative reforms back in Rivers State remains to be seen. For now, the Amaewhule-led faction continues its political journey—physically and figuratively—far from the chambers they once dominated.