The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said he will not work with Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the FCT in the National Assembly, accusing her of failing to provide a strong foundation for development in the territory.
Wike made the statement on Tuesday in Abuja while reacting to Kingibe’s recent criticism of the FCT Administration over flooding in parts of the capital.
The minister said he was not under any obligation to work with only one senator, adding that his responsibility was to work with people across the territory and relevant institutions.
Wike also questioned Kingibe’s record as the FCT senator, claiming that residents were dissatisfied with her performance and could reject her at the 2027 election.
According to the minister, Kingibe’s repeated demand for cooperation with the FCT Administration did not make sense because the National Assembly has its own responsibilities in addressing issues affecting the capital.
He said lawmakers representing the FCT had the opportunity to raise problems affecting residents and contribute to finding solutions through legislation and oversight.
Wike further accused Kingibe of trying to improve her political standing ahead of the next election by speaking publicly about issues affecting the FCT.
He dismissed the senator’s media appearances as unlikely to change the views of residents if they were already dissatisfied with her performance.
The disagreement between the minister and the senator comes amid growing attention to flooding and other infrastructure problems in Abuja.
Wike has recently maintained that both government action and the behaviour of property owners have contributed to flooding in parts of the capital. He has ordered action against structures found to be blocking designated waterways and directed relevant FCT agencies to address drainage problems.
Kingibe has previously criticised aspects of the FCT Administration’s handling of issues affecting residents, leading to repeated exchanges between both politicians.
Wike, however, said he remained willing to work with other stakeholders and representatives who were prepared to contribute to the development of Abuja.
He maintained that his administration would continue to focus on infrastructure and other projects across the FCT, regardless of political disagreements with individual lawmakers.