The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has made it clear that he is not interested in fostering any form of friendship with Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the FCT in the Senate.
Wike asserted that he would not be coerced into establishing a friendship with her and accused her of resorting to blackmail instead of addressing her concerns through proper channels.
Speaking to select journalists in Abuja on Friday, Wike urged the senator to concentrate on her oversight functions rather than pursuing a personal relationship with him. He claimed that Senator Kingibe was aggrieved because she was overlooked for the position of Chairman of the Senate Committee on FCT, allegedly due to a snub by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Wike expressed his stance, stating, “I don’t want to be personal…she’s the Senator for FCT. She went around saying ‘oh, oh Wike is busy scraping roads…I should leave the roads till when the potholes come? Somebody wants to be your friend, and you say, ‘I don’t want to be your friend. Is it by force?’”
The minister continued to address the situation, highlighting Senator Kingibe’s aspirations for the committee position and her disappointment at not being appointed. He emphasized his refusal to be intimidated, citing his previous roles as a Minister and Governor.
Wike’s remarks underscored his belief that Senator Kingibe’s actions were driven by personal grievances rather than genuine concerns for the FCT. He dismissed accusations of neglect, asserting that his focus remains on fulfilling his duties without yielding to undue pressure.
The rift between Wike and Senator Kingibe appears to stem from political dynamics within the FCT, with Wike maintaining his stance against engaging in a friendship forced by external circumstances.
