Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has strongly criticized the appointment of Nyesom Wike as FCT Minister by President Bola Tinubu, describing it as one of the president’s greatest missteps since assuming office.
In a candid interview with Arise TV on Monday night, July 14, Kingibe did not hold back in her assessment of Wike’s leadership style, accusing the former Rivers State governor of governing the nation’s capital with what she called “complete disregard for the rule of law.”
“The primary thing is that the minister doesn’t obey the rule of law. He’s autocratic. He doesn’t follow any rules or any laws,” Kingibe said.
“When you try to draw his attention to the fact that governance is based on law, he doesn’t accept that.”
The senator alleged that Wike has reintroduced agencies in the FCT without seeking the required legislative backing from the National Assembly.
“If he wants these things, he should ask the National Assembly to create the enabling laws. But he doesn’t, because he feels he can do anything,” she added.
Kingibe cited several examples to support her claims, including the revocation of 7,000 hectares of land originally allocated to the University of Abuja.
“It is against the Land Use Act to take land from institutions and give it to individuals,” she argued.
She also raised concerns about the displacement of vulnerable women who had been cleaning the streets of Abuja for years.
According to her, Wike dismissed them without providing alternative employment or mechanized cleaning solutions, leaving the capital “visibly dirtier.”
The senator further accused the minister of neglecting the plight of small indigenous contractors, many of whom she claimed have gone unpaid for two years.
“Wike says he won’t pay them because he didn’t award the contracts. That’s not how governance works,” she said.
Kingibe expressed disappointment in President Tinubu for empowering a member of the opposition with such a critical position in his administration.
“If I were to make a list of all the things President Tinubu has done wrong, the greatest would be appointing Minister Wike,” she remarked.
She also accused Wike of revoking land intended for a general hospital in Bwari and repurposing it for what she described as a “mall or market.”
Additionally, she criticized the minister for harassing embassies and residents over ground rent while allegedly failing to account for Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and funds in the Treasury Single Account (TSA).
When asked about her next steps, Kingibe revealed plans to escalate the matter to relevant authorities.
“I will take my documents and go to the president, from whom Wike derives his powers. Everything he does must return to the National Assembly for proper scrutiny.”
Despite tensions, the senator affirmed she has no fear of the minister. “I’m not afraid of him. I’m just saying he should know I’m watching,” she said, also disclosing a personal security concern involving a black jeep that allegedly followed her after an oversight function in Sokoto.
Kingibe concluded by emphasizing that she remains committed to upholding the rights of FCT residents and holding the minister accountable. “I’m a senator of the Federal Republic. I have rights. It’s God who protects.”