Wike thinks Aduda is still FCT Senator, says Ireti Kingibe

The Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Ireti Kingibe, has lamented that the Minister of the Territory, Nyesom Wike, was relating to his predecessor, Philip Aduda, rather than her.

Ireti, made the allegation while speaking on Channels Television on why she has not been relating with the Minister on the degenerating security situation in the FCT.

She said the Minister has ignored her messages and letters on the insecurity FCT that has resulted in the abduction of scores of persons in some parts of the city.

Ireti also said she has not been able to meet Wike on the security situation in Abuja.

She said the only time she was able to meet Wike was when he came for the defence of the 2024 budget in the National Assembly.

He said when he raised alarm about the degenerating insecurity in FCT with him then, the Minister accused him of exaggerating the situation.

“I remember a few months ago, I drew the attention of the minister (Nyesom Wike) – when he came for appropriation – to the fact that security is a priority. And I have been saying that for a long time. It started off with the people in Mpape being unable to sleep,” Ireti said.

“The minister for some reason thinks Senator Aduda is still the Senator of the FCT. Unfortunately, that’s not the case,” Senator Kingibe said on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.

READ ALSO: President Tinubu Greenlights Emergency Procurement of Tracking Tools to Combat Kidnapping – FCT Minister Wike

I have the WhatsApp messages, I have written him one or two letters and I don’t get any response,” she claimed.

She however said the Senate will invite Wike and security agencies over the worrying rate of insecurity in Abuja.

“When the Senate resumes, I plan that the (Senate) FCT committees specifically me, needs to sit with the two ministers and the security agencies for them to give us their plans concerning security,” Senator Kingibe, elected under the Labour Party (LP), added.

“It is not that I am hoping. I know he will be summoned. But whether he responds or not is a different matter entirely. But as the chief security officer of the FCT, he should have a plan.

“He should be able to tell us, the committee, and specifically me, that this is the plan for protecting the people of the FCT. Between him, the police commissioner, and the head of the DSS, they must have a plan.”

There has been a spike in the abduction and killing of FCT residents by bandits, especially in the Bwari Area Council.

But Wike has assured that the FCT Administration was taking steps to address the security challenges while urging residents not to panic, as the government had taken measures to address the ugly situation.