You won’t return to senate in 2027, Wike tells Kingibe

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has vowed that Ireti Kingibe, the senator representing the FCT, won’t return to the senate in 2027.

The minister was reacting to an earlier claim by the senator that FCT residents were not impressed with Wike’s performance.

Wike and Senator Kingibe have not been on good terms since they assumed office. Kingibe, elected on the platform of the Labour Party (LP), was recently on a television programme where she spoke about the rift between her and the minister. Among other things, she had said that she was not willing to be a friend to Wike, whom she accused of sidelining her.

But speaking at the flag-off of the construction of Mabushi Bus Terminal on Monday in Abuja, Wike said, “I overheard somebody on Arise TV, unfortunately, a member of the National Assembly. With all due respect, what you don’t know, you don’t know, and what you know, you know. It is good to admit when you don’t know something so that people can educate you.

“If we have done well, we have done well. If we haven’t, we haven’t. I am proud to say that in the short time Mr. President has appointed us, we have done well.

“You said there were no hospitals. As a legislator, what have you done? How many bills have you sponsored to improve our education and health sectors? I challenge that legislator: if you are very popular, come and run in Abuja in 2027. We will fail you. Do you think what happened last time will happen again? It will not. Luckily for me, I am the FCT minister now, so that is my territory, and I am not afraid,” Wike said.

Apparently referring to Kingibe’s latest interview, Wike said, “We are not begging anyone to become our friend. We have so many friends we cannot even carry along.”