Wike accused Senator Kingibe of blackmailing him and informed her that he could not be forced into becoming her friend
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has lambasted Senator Ireti Kingibe (LP, FCT)
The former Rivers State governor also gave reasons why he and Senator Kingibe have never been in good terms since they both assumed their current position.
OrderPaper recalls that earlier in January, Kingibe claimed that there was no synergy between the Minister on the one hand and the elected officials and residents of the city on the other hand.
According to her, several efforts to meet with Wike to discuss ways to resolve the insecurity in the FCT were rejected.
Also, in September 2023, Kingibe lamented Wike’s threats of demolition of illegal buildings in FCT, saying that he doesn’t have the executive powers to do so.
READ ALSO: All efforts to meet Wike over insecurity in FCT has failed – Kingibe
Wike, speaking with journalists on Thursday, emphasised that Kingibe‘s fury is a result of his continuous friendship with her predecessor in the senate, Philip Aduda.
According to him, Kingibe was also displeased with her denial of the FCT committee chairmanship adding that he could not be coerced to become Kingibe’s friend.
He said, “Somebody wants to be your friend. I said I don’t want to be your friend. Is it by force? The problem is that she wanted to be chairman senate committee on FCT but the senate president said: I’m not giving you.”
Speaking further, Wike questioned Kingibe saying, “Are you going to supervise me? You cannot supervise me”
The minister stated that he has consistently invited the Chairpersons of the Senate and House of Representatives FCT committees to attend the flag-off of projects in the FCT.
“There’s nothing we have done that I have not invited the two chairmen of the FCT.
“Nobody can intimidate me. I was a minister before, I became a governor of one of the most important states in Nigeria and now I am a minister of FCT.
“You’re saying the minister does not carry me along. I don’t have the back. People don’t know how to go about things. It is not by intimidation.
“The problem is this, she ran an election against my friend Philip Aduda. And then she sees Philip Aduda everywhere with me. She said I am taking Philip everywhere instead of her who is the senator.
“Will I abandon my friend because he failed the election? People are so petty. It doesn’t make sense.”
Wike asked Kingibe to “do the right thing” through appropriate communication.
STAR Check: Nigerians, particularly, constituents of FCT district, can keep tabs on the legislative performance of Sen. Kingibe throughout the 10th senate here.
