“We’re not his subjects. He’s not a king,” Kingibe said during a fiery interview on Channels TV. “He governs like an emperor prioritizing showy infrastructure over people’s daily struggles.”
When Senator Ireti Kingibe took the oath of office to represent the Federal Capital Territory, she promised to be the voice of underserved communities. Today, that voice is louder and more direct than ever.
In a searing interview this week, the outspoken Labour Party senator accused FCT Minister Nyesom Wike of governing Abuja like “an emperor,” pushing policies that she says have made daily life increasingly difficult for residents of the nation’s capital.
“He’s not building schools, not providing water, not improving healthcare,” Kingibe said during an appearance on Channels TV’s Political Paradigm. “He’s only building roads in the city center where few live. What about the rest of Abuja?”
Policies That Hit the Poor the Hardest
Senator Kingibe’s criticism comes amid growing frustration among Abuja’s suburban and rural communities, where residents report a worsening quality of life.
- Healthcare gaps: In communities like Gurfata Ibwa in Gwagwalada, residents lack basic health services. Kingibe earlier revealed that over 3,000 people in the area have no access to a functioning clinic.
- Education crisis: Over 300 children in the same ward, she said, study under dilapidated conditions with no proper classrooms or facilities.
- Insecurity: With many neighborhoods still without streetlights or proper roads, Kingibe says insecurity has surged, making it unsafe for residents to go about their lives after dark.
“Minister Wike has not made life better for the people. In fact, he’s made it harder,” she said bluntly.
Ground Rent Controversy: “Unconstitutional and Cruel”
The sharpest clash between the two FCT officials came earlier this year when Wike’s administration began sealing off homes and businesses over unpaid ground rent. Properties in highbrow areas like Wuse, Maitama, and Garki were affected often with little notice.Kingibe challenged the move, citing Section 42 of the Land Use Act, which she argues allows for fines or penalties—not outright seizure.
“You cannot revoke someone’s right of occupancy because they owe money. That’s unconstitutional,” she insisted on the Senate floor. Following widespread backlash, President Bola Tinubu intervened, ordering a temporary halt to the seizures and granting a 14-day grace period for residents to settle debts.
Behind the Scenes: A Political Power Struggle
The rift between Wike and Kingibe goes beyond policy. It has become a symbol of competing visions for the capital’s future.
Last December, Kingibe stormed out of a Senate session after being blocked from presenting a motion on demolitions in Life Camp. Earlier this year, Wike publicly dismissed her criticisms, accusing her of underperforming and threatening to derail her reelection bid. Despite the heated rhetoric, Kingibe recently surprised many by endorsing Wike’s ₦1.78 trillion 2025 FCT budget, describing it as “well-structured” a move she said was not political, but strategic.
“If supporting the budget will bring development to the people, I’ll support it. I’m not here for ego. I’m here for results,” she explained.
The Bigger Picture: Who Speaks for the People?
While Wike has defended his focus on infrastructure and legality especially regarding land use critics argue that the FCT’s poorest neighborhoods remain neglected.
With the 2027 elections on the horizon, Kingibe’s pushback is not just about accountability it’s about defining leadership in a city where glass towers rise while slums sink.
Her message is clear: “Abuja is not a kingdom. It belongs to the people and we must govern with that in mind.”
