Senator Ireti Kingibe has taken a swipe at Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), accusing him of being disconnected from the people and fuelling growing resentment in Abuja.
Speaking on Political Paradigm, a Channels TV programme, Kingibe said Wike’s leadership style has left residents feeling sidelined and insecure.
“Most of Abuja is pitch dark,” she said. “So I go there, put solar lights in the spaces I can just so young people can feel safer. You can’t lock them indoors forever.”
Kingibe added that residents often reach out to her about security issues in their communities, particularly the lack of basic infrastructure like street lighting.
“I know Karu market is in darkness. I installed lights there. People write to me saying, ‘There’s so much insecurity. A few lights will help.’ And I do it. Solar lights are cheap but where I can place one, the minister could place a thousand. Do you see the difference?”
Taking aim at Wike’s recent boast that she won’t return to the Senate in 2027, Kingibe said she’s unfazed.
“I wasn’t desperate to run before, and I’m not now. But if I decide to contest, it’s a shoo-in.”
The senator believes the upcoming area council elections, scheduled for early next year, will serve as a clear referendum on Wike’s performance.
“Those elections will show whether or not Wike truly has control over the FCT. Because, frankly, nobody does,” she said.
According to Kingibe, what unites Abuja’s diverse population today is their shared frustration with the minister’s perceived arrogance and neglect.
“It’s not just a matter of development,” she said. “It’s about being treated with contempt. The people here have their own minds, and they don’t appreciate being disregarded.”
