Kingibe: Wike Out of Touch with Abuja Residents, Faces Backlash Ahead of LG Polls
Senator Ireti Kingibe says growing resentment among residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is a result of Minister Nyesom Wike’s actions, stressing that the upcoming area council elections will prove he holds no real political grip over Abuja.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm, Kingibe described Wike as out of touch with the needs of the people.
“Most of Abuja is pitch dark,” she said. “So I go there, put solar lights in between the places, light up the place so that young people will at least have… you can’t keep them at home, so they’ll at least be safer.”
“They will come give me awards, commend me for looking out for them. It’s not that he (Wike) wouldn’t have done it too, except he doesn’t know what they need.”
The senator said residents have been reaching out to her with security complaints that could be mitigated with simple interventions.
“I know Karu market is pitch dark. I put lights there. Communities will write to me: ‘There’s so much insecurity around this place. A few lights will make a difference.’ I put it,” she said. “Solar lights are cheap, but how many can I put? For where I can put one, the minister can put a thousand. Do you see the difference?”
On Wike’s recent comment that she won’t return to the Senate in 2027, Kingibe said: “You know, I was not interested in running, you want to bet? I know for certain that when I decide to run, it’s a shoo-in.”
She added: “The local government election is going to tell whether Wike controls FCT, because nobody does.”
