Senator Ireti Kingibe, has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made a “critical political error” by appointing Nyesom Wike as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The decision, Kingibe who represents the FCT said, has undermined the administration and deepened discontent in the capital.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE Television, the lawmaker said the appointment of Wike, a member of the opposition, was not only politically unwise but has had damaging consequences for governance in the territory.
“It is my personal opinion that that is rather unfortunate, because if I were making a list of all the things that President Tinubu has done wrong, the greatest wrong he’s done to himself, the thing that has demarcated him the most, has been on Minister Wike,” Kingibe stated.
She accused Wike of running the FCT in an autocratic manner with little regard for the rule of law.
According to her, Wike’s leadership style has created a climate of disregard for institutions and legal frameworks guiding the territory.
“The primary thing is that the minister doesn’t obey the rule of law. He is autocratic. He doesn’t follow any rules or any laws. And when you try to draw his attention to the fact that governance is based on the rule of law, he doesn’t accept that,” she said.
Kingibe alleged that Wike has reintroduced agencies without the necessary legal backing and circumvented the legislative process, bypassing the National Assembly.
“Minister Nyesom Wike has brought back agencies without the enabling laws. If he wants these things, he should ask the National Assembly to create the enabling laws. But he doesn’t, because he just feels he can do anything,” she added.
Citing specific examples, Kingibe said Wike revoked large portions of land previously allocated to the University of Abuja, in a move she described as illegal and contrary to the Land Use Act.
“Abuja University had approximately 11,000 hectares. Minister Wike has revoked 7,000 of it and left them with four. It is definitely against the Land Use Act for you to take land from institutions to give them to individuals,” she said.
She also accused the minister of taking over land in Bwari initially reserved for a general hospital and converting it to a private development.
“In Bwari, there’s land allocated for a general hospital. Minister Wike revoked it and he’s having some sort of a market or mall or something put on it,” she added.
The senator alleged that Wike’s leadership has led to job losses and growing frustration among residents, especially vulnerable groups.
“Every minister has come and found the streets being cleaned by indigent women. Even when some ministers come and want to bring mechanical street sweepers, we say, no, this is a source of livelihood for our indigent women, widows and other underprivileged women.
He comes, he’s fired them all. Then he doesn’t replace them with mechanical street sweepers. So Abuja is looking dirty,” she said.
Kingibe alleged non-payment for hundreds of small indigenous contractors in Abuja for services rendered before Wike’s assumption of office.
“There are these people called Abuja Small Indigenous Contractors, maybe about four or five hundred of them, that have not been paid for two years now. He says, no, he’s not paying them. He didn’t give them the job”, Kingibe stated.
According to her, Wike’s refusal to engage the National Assembly in his financial activities is troubling, especially as he manages funds from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and internally generated revenue.
“Wike, who is deriving powers from the president, does not go to the National Assembly for anything except budget. TSA, all his IGR, what has he done with it? He’s never accounted for anything,” she said.
Kingibe said she intends to take up the matter with the appropriate authorities using documents she has gathered.
“I’m going to take those documents and go to the body, the equivalent of his state assembly, and insist that the president from whom Wike derives his powers goes back to the National Assembly for approval for everything,” she added.
Asked whether she fears a backlash from Wike or his supporters, Kingibe said she is undeterred and confident in her mandate.
“I’m definitely not afraid of him. I’m not saying he should be afraid of me. I’m just saying he should be aware that most things he does, I will know,” she said.
The senator further hinted at a security concern she experienced recently after a legislative oversight trip.
“The other day I was coming back from… I went for an oversight to Sokoto… a black jeep was following me almost all the way home. But the truth is I’m a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I have rights. I’m not afraid. It’s God who protects,” she said.
