Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the National Assembly, has openly criticized the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, over his approach to governance and treatment of critical issues affecting residents of Abuja.
In a candid interview on Channels Television, the senator accused Wike of operating with what she described as an “emperor mentality.”
According to her, the minister has sidelined key developmental concerns and failed to cooperate with elected officials who are working to improve the lives of people in the capital city.
“I Decided to Tone It Down — It Made No Difference”
Senator Kingibe explained that she initially made a conscious decision to reduce public criticism of the minister. Her intention, she said, was to give room for development and build a cooperative relationship that would benefit her constituents.
“In the last few months, I gave it some thought and said, ‘Okay, at the end of the day, all I want is for my people to benefit’. If being less antagonistic to the minister would help bring development, then fine. So I decided to minimize my public criticism of him,” she stated.
However, Kingibe noted that her efforts at diplomacy were met with indifference.
“It’s not made any difference, because he has an emperor mentality.”
“He Thought He Had Silenced Me”
The senator further alleged that Wike misinterpreted her restraint as weakness or submission.
“He just thought, ‘Oh, I’ve got her – end of matter,’ and things are even worse,” she said.
She also raised alarming concerns about the welfare of staff in the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), claiming that under Wike’s leadership, the situation has deteriorated.
“At least in the first year I was senator, he paid the salaries of the FCDA staff. Now they’re not even being paid,” Kingibe revealed.
Mounting Frustrations in the FCT
Kingibe’s comments reflect growing tensions over governance and service delivery in the Federal Capital. Abuja residents have long complained about issues ranging from poor infrastructure to delays in essential services. Her remarks are likely to stir fresh debate on the need for improved collaboration between elected officials and appointed ministers for the benefit of the people.
As the friction between both leaders intensifies, all eyes will be on the Federal Government to respond and address the concerns raised, particularly regarding the welfare of public workers and the direction of development in the FCT.
