Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has demanded an apology from FCT Minister Nyesom Wike over his remarks suggesting he would unseat her as an FCT senator in 2027.
The tension between Kingibe and Wike has been palpable since they assumed their respective offices, with both officials frequently clashing.
On July 1, during the flag-off ceremony of the Mabushi Bus Terminal construction in Abuja, Wike criticized Kingibe’s performance, claiming she has not met expectations since taking office. He also provocatively suggested that she should “hang herself on a transformer” if dissatisfied with his performance in the FCT.
In a recent interview on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm, Kingibe asserted that Wike lacks an understanding of FCT leadership and insisted that his remarks were discourteous. She called for an apology from Wike, indicating that only then could she consider moving past their disputes.
“He obviously doesn’t understand the concept of the FCT. This is not personal. He said, ‘I don’t want to be her friend.’ How does governance translate into friendship?” Kingibe remarked.
“I am willing to work with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, but he must first apologize for his comment about hanging on a transformer. Once he does that, we can start afresh. Until then, everyone stays in their lane. With all due respect, I am significantly older than him, and even common courtesy demands he should not speak to me like that.”
