Wike To Senator Kingibe: You Cannot Supervise Me, I Don’t Want To Be Your Friend

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, has declared that the Senator representing the nation’s capital in the Senator, Senator Ireti Kingibe cannot supervise him as a minister.

Wike, who stated this while explaining why Senator Kingibe is not in good terms with him, said nobody can intimidate him, adding that he was a minister before he became the governor of one of the most important states in Nigeria and now the Minister of FCT.

Wike and Kingibe, the senator representing FCT, have not had a good working relationship since they both assumed their respective offices.

In September 2023, Kingibe said Wike does not have the executive powers to make threats of demolition of “illegal” buildings just as she announced in January 2024 that the FCT Minister, Wike had refused to respond to her letters and messages in the wake of the rising insecurity in Abuja.

But, while clarifying his position at a media parley on Thursday, Wike said Kingibe’s anger stems from his constant companionship with the former Senator representing the FCT, Senator Philip Aduda.

In the words of Wike; “The problem is this — she ran an election against my friend, Philip Aduda. And then she sees Philip Aduda everywhere with me. She said I am taking Philip everywhere instead of her who is the present senator.

“Will I abandon my friend because he failed election? People are so petty. It doesn’t make sense. Let her do the right thing through appropriate communication.

“The problem is that she wanted to be chairman of the Senate committee on FCT but, the Senate President said: I’m not giving you.

“You’re saying the minister does not carry me along. I don’t have the back. People don’t know how to go about things. It is not by intimidation,” he enthused.

Wike also alleged that Senator Kingibe wanted him to be her friend. adding that friendship cannot be forced on him since he was not interested in having her as his friend.

He said; “Somebody wants to be your friend. I said I don’t want to be your friend. Is it by force?”

Wike further said that he usually invite the chairpersons of the FCT committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives to witness the flag-off of projects in the Territory.