I Dare You to Campaign Against Me in FCT Satellite Towns, Wike Challenges Senator Kingibe
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has fired back at Senator Ireti Kingibe, daring her to tour FCT satellite communities and openly campaign against his position in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet if she truly believes in her political strength.
The challenge came following a recent television interview where Senator Kingibe, who represents the FCT in the National Assembly, described Wike’s appointment as a mistake and criticized his handling of infrastructure and service delivery in the capital territory.
In a strongly worded statement released by Lere Olayinka, Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications, the minister dismissed Kingibe’s remarks as politically motivated and rooted in personal bitterness.
He said if the senator is confident of her popularity, she should take her criticism directly to the people of FCT’s satellite towns such as Saburi, Dei Dei, Kabusa, Ketti, Yangoji, Pai, Gomani, Gishiri, Kwaita, Yebu, Sukuku, Ebo, and Ushafa, and campaign against Wike’s achievements in those communities.
Olayinka listed several development projects spearheaded by the minister, including the relocation of the Apo Mechanic Village to reduce traffic congestion, and the revival of the long-abandoned Federal Capital Territory University in Abaji.
He added that 22 schools have already been renovated under Wike’s administration, with over 40 more currently undergoing rehabilitation. These, he said, reflect visible progress being made in areas long neglected by previous administrations, including Senator Kingibe’s own tenure.
The minister’s aide also accused Senator Kingibe of failing her constituents, claiming she had neither initiated meaningful projects nor paid her personal aides and constituency workers. He alleged that many of her staff resigned in frustration, while others reportedly went months without pay.
According to him, her political relevance is largely sustained by her surname and former marital ties to Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe.
The exchange further deepens the political tension between the two high-ranking FCT figures. Wike had earlier vowed that Kingibe would not return to the Senate in 2027, signaling a fierce rivalry that may shape the next electoral cycle in the capital territory.
Despite a brief moment of alignment earlier this year when Kingibe endorsed Wike’s N1.78 trillion FCT budget proposal, their relationship has remained fraught with accusations and political barbs.
Wike’s administration has increasingly focused on infrastructural expansion and urban planning reforms in the FCT, while Senator Kingibe continues to advocate for improved public services and greater accountability from the executive.
However, this recent face-off suggests their political contest is far from over, with both sides poised to test their popularity ahead of future elections.
