Ireti Kingibe, senator representing the federal capital territory (FCT), says Nyesom Wike’s conduct is fuelling resentment among residents.
Speaking on ‘Political Paradigm’, a programme on Channels Television, Kingibe said Wike is out of touch with the needs of the people.
“Most of Abuja is pitch dark,” she said.
“So I go there, put solar lights in between the places, light up the place so that young people will at least have… you can’t keep them at home, so they’ll at least be safer.
“They will come give me awards, commend me for looking out for them. It’s not that he (Wike) wouldn’t have done it too, except he doesn’t know what they need.”
She said residents often write to her to raise security concerns regarding their communities.
“I know Karu market is pitch dark. I put lights there. Communities will write to me: ‘There’s so much insecurity around this place. A few lights will make a difference.’ I put it,” she said.
“Solar lights are cheap, but how many can I put? For where I can put one, the minister can put a thousand. Do you see the difference?”
Asked about Wike’s recent remark that she would not return to the senate in 2027, Kingibe said she was not desperate to run.
“You know, I was not interested in running, you want to bet? I know for certain that when I decide to run, it’s a shoo-in,” she said.
She said the area council elections scheduled for early next year will serve as a referendum on Wike’s stewardship.
“Local government elections are coming early next year. That is when the people of the FCT show ministers, ‘we like you or we do not like you.’” she said.
“The local government election is going to tell whether Wike controls FCT, because nobody does.”
Kingibe said residents of Abuja are independent-minded and united by their dissatisfaction with the current minister.
“It’s only people who have lived here for a long time who know that the people of the FCT have their independent mind,” she said.
“And it’s people who live here, you walk on the streets, and you will know that the one thing that unites us all in the FCT is our resentment of the minister.
“It’s not just about development. It’s about treating us with levity, treating us with disregard and contempt.”
