Senator Ireti Kingibe has expressed her willingness to collaborate with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, but only if he apologises for his disparaging comments about her work as a lawmaker.
News About Nigeria reports that the minister had previously threatened to unseat Kingibe in 2027, claiming she had questioned his handling of issues in the FCT, including the poor state of schools and hospitals.
Wike’s response to Kingibe’s concerns was confrontational, asking her to account for her own accomplishments as a senator and challenging her to sponsor bills to improve education and healthcare in the FCT.
He also made a provocative statement, suggesting she could “hang on a transformer” if she was unhappy with his progress.
However, in a recent interview, Kingibe said that she is open to working with Wike, but only if he apologises for his offensive remarks.
She noted that she is older than Wike and deserves respect, adding that his comments were unbecoming of a public official.
Kingibe also highlighted the importance of understanding the concept of governance in the FCT, which she believes Wike lacks.
She mentioned that governance is not about personal relationships, but rather about serving the people.
“I’m actually willing to do everything to work with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, as long as he apologises first for saying I should go and hang on a transformer,” she said.
“Once he does that, it is all over. We can start afresh but until then, everybody stays in your lane. With all due respect, I am so much older than him. Even courtesy demands he should not speak to me like that.
“He doesn’t understand the concept of the FCT. If he did, it is nothing personal. He says ‘I don’t want to be her friend.’ How does governance translate into friendship?”
