Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has boldly declared that he will ensure Senator Ireti Kingibe does not return to the Senate.
This statement follows Kingibe’s criticism of Wike’s performance, in which she asserted that FCT residents are unimpressed with his leadership.
Senator Kingibe, representing the Labour Party, voiced her concerns during an appearance on Arise TV.
She highlighted the FCT’s lack of essential amenities, including schools, hospitals, and potable water, and questioned Wike’s effectiveness as FCT Minister.
In response, Wike, the former governor of Rivers State, rebuked Kingibe’s comments during the flag-off of the Mabushi Bus Terminal in Abuja.
He emphasized his accomplishments since taking office and dismissed Kingibe’s criticisms as uninformed.
“I overheard somebody on Arise TV this morning. Unfortunately, I hear the person is a member of the National Assembly, and it is unfortunate I say so,” Wike remarked.
“With all due respect, what you don’t know, you don’t know. What you know, you know. And the good thing for you is to tell people you don’t know when you don’t know, then people will educate you.”
Wike defended his record, stating, “If we have done well, we have done well. If we haven’t done well, we haven’t done well. I am proud to say that in the short time that Mr. President has appointed us, we have done well.”
He further challenged Kingibe’s legislative contributions, asking, “You said there are no hospitals and there are no hospitals. You, as a legislator, what have you done? How many bills have you sponsored for us to improve our education and health sector?”
Predicting Kingibe’s defeat in the 2027 elections, Wike declared, “I challenge that legislator. If you are very popular, in 2027, come and run under Abuja, we will fail you. Do you think that what happened last time will happen again? It will not happen again. Luckily for me, I am the FCT Minister now. So that is my territory, and I’m not afraid.”
Wike dismissed any notion of seeking friendship from political opponents, stating, “We are not begging for anybody to become our friend; we have so many friends that we cannot even carry along. So how can we go and beg people to become our friends? We are not interested in that.”
He concluded with a pointed remark aimed at his critics, “If you are angry that people are praising us, by next year your BP level will go very high because the praises you would see would be too much.”