Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ireti Kingibe, has accused FCT Minister Nyesom Wike of acting in a lawless manner, despite expressing a desire to maintain a cordial relationship with him.
Speaking ahead of the local government elections in the FCT, Kingibe revealed that her relationship with the minister had been strained following a heated telephone exchange.
“I called Wike, and he yelled at me. I yelled at him back, and it continued for some minutes before we put the phone down,” she said.
According to the senator, Senate President Godswill Akpabio later intervened by arranging a three-way call between her and the FCT minister in an effort to ease tensions.
Kingibe also disclosed that she formally wrote to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the matter but has yet to receive a response.
She expressed confidence in a strong voter turnout in tomorrow’s council elections, noting that more than 1.3 million residents had collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). According to her, the election has taken on a personal dimension for many residents who are dissatisfied with the minister’s leadership style.
“The election is personal because the people are not pleased with Wike,” she stated.
While affirming her longstanding relationship with President Tinubu, which she said spans over four decades, Kingibe stressed that her actions are driven by the best interests of FCT residents.
“President Tinubu has been my friend for over 40 years, and I have no reason to work against him, but I want what is best for the people of the FCT,” she added.
