Abuja, July 9, 2025 — Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the National Assembly, has publicly criticized current FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, arguing that his infrastructure-focused agenda is failing to address the real needs of everyday Abuja residents.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm on Tuesday, Kingibe drew a sharp comparison between Wike and former FCT Minister Nasir El-Rufai, asserting that El-Rufai remains the benchmark for impactful leadership in the capital.
“I don’t agree with those who praise Wike,” Kingibe said. “His projects are not putting food on the table for the residents of the FCT.”
While acknowledging Wike’s push for urban development, the senator argued that infrastructure alone is not a measure of success. She stressed that responsiveness to community concerns and basic service delivery should be prioritized.
“If you ask any FCT person who has been the minister who has performed the most, they will tell you El-Rufai. Why? El-Rufai built roads, and he also responded to the needs of the people,” she said.
Kingibe cited a specific example involving the relocation of an abattoir to an area lacking infrastructure, security, and water — a move she claimed exemplified Wike's disconnect from the realities on the ground.
“Being a successful minister isn’t just about infrastructure,” she added. “It’s about being in tune with the people and responding to their needs.”
Her comments have stirred debate and drawn a sharp rebuke from Wike’s camp. In a swift response, Lere Olayinka, Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media, dismissed Kingibe’s remarks as political “theatrics.”
“Senator Ireti Kingibe should stop being shameless,” Olayinka said in a statement. He alleged that the senator had failed to pay her legislative aides for up to six months, leading to multiple resignations.
“Rather than playing opposition for clout, she should focus on her responsibilities and the welfare of her aides,” he added.
The clash marks a deepening rift between the FCT’s two top political figures. It also reignites debate over the purpose of development in the capital — whether it should be measured in grand infrastructure or in everyday impacts on citizens' lives.
Kingibe has remained one of the most vocal critics of Wike's leadership in Abuja, and recently warned that FCT residents would “show Wike who owns Abuja” in the upcoming local government elections.
Observers say the exchange reflects broader political tensions in the capital, as the 2027 general elections begin to take shape.
