Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has strongly criticized FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for his claims that she provided food to hunger protesters in the FCT on Thursday.
Minister Wike made these allegations during a press conference addressing recent protests in the FCT and nationwide.
Wike alleged, “That is sponsorship. A senator providing food for protesters. At the appropriate time, security agencies will invite the senator and find out how you will be sponsoring this kind of thing against the government of the day.”
Although Wike did not name anyone specifically, the video he referenced included former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi as a potential sponsor.
However, the video in question, analyzed by THE WHISTLER, did not show anyone providing food to protesters.
Instead, it depicted Obi addressing the protesters who were demonstrating against Labour Party National Chairman Julius Abure.
Obi was seen advising the protesters, stating, “nobody here is more important than the others including me, we want the country (Nigeria) to work,” while Senator Kingibe stood alongside other top party members.
On Friday, Obi denied any involvement in the protests and warned against orchestrated moves to discredit him. Similarly, Senator Kingibe expressed her outrage, labeling the allegations as “blatant lies and misinformation.”
“I am shocked and outraged by the blatant lies and misinformation being spread by mischief-makers! The video being circulated is from over six weeks ago, during a Labour Party NWC meeting, when the NLC was protesting outside the Labour Party office. As stakeholders, including Senators, House of Reps members, and Mr. Peter Obi, we went out to engage with the protesters and address their concerns. Now, these deceitful individuals are trying to pass off this old footage as current, claiming that Mr Peter Obi and I were leading protests in Abuja yesterday,” Kingibe stated.
She further clarified that she had not left her house since Wednesday due to illness and condemned the false narratives.
“Let me set the record straight: Mr. Peter Obi is not in Abuja, and I haven’t left my house since Wednesday due to illness, much less distributed food and water at the protest grounds, though that would be noble for whoever did”