Senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe, has demanded an apology from FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for his comments threatening to remove her as FCT Senator in 2027.
Kingibe and Wike have not had a good working relationship since assuming their respective positions. The two politicians have attacked each other on several occasions.
The minister asked Kingibe about his achievements for his constituency since being elected.
But the senator objected to this, saying she was much older than Wike. He said he was ready to work with Wike if he apologised to him.
READ ALSO: Akpabio tells Wike to ignore Ireti Kingibe
According to him, etiquette demands that Wike should not talk to him like that.
On Channels Television's Political Paradigm, he asked, “He clearly does not understand the concept of the FCT. Even if he does, it is not personal. He says, 'I don't want to be his friend.' How does governance translate into friendship?”
“I am indeed willing to do everything to work with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory provided he first apologises for saying I should go and hang on the transformer.
“Once he does that, it's over. We can start afresh, but until then, everyone stays within their limits. With all due respect, I'm much older than him. Etiquette demands that he speak to me as such.”
Wike threatens to remove Kingibe from power
On July 1, Wike threatened Kingibe, saying the FCT senator would not be re-elected in 2027. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the construction of the Mabushi Bus Terminal in Abuja, the minister argued that the lawmaker has not performed well since assuming office.
“If we have done well, we have done well. If we have not done well, we have not done well. I am proud to say that in the short period President Tinubu appointed us to, we have done well,” the FCT minister said.
“You said there are no schools and hospitals. What have you done as a legislator? How many bills have you sponsored to improve our education and health sector?
“I challenge that lawmaker. If you are very popular, come and contest in Abuja in 2027; we will make you fail.”
Wike, Kingibe face off
Kingibe, a member of the Labour Party (LP), defeated Wike’s ally, Philip Aduda, in the 2023 election to become the FCT senator.
Since then, Wike and Kingibe have been at loggerheads, with the senator accusing the FCT minister of sidelining him despite representing the capital territory.
Wike claimed that Kingibe attacked him because he was not appointed chairman of the Senate committee on the FCT.
Senator Kingibe accused Weke of not picking his calls amid the prevailing insecurity in the capital city. He later accused him of not having the interest of FCT residents at heart.
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