NIGERIANS on X have reacted to the threat by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to unseat an unnamed lawmaker for criticising his performance.
Wike issued the threat at the opening of the Mabushi Bus Terminal Phase I construction on Monday, July 1 in Abuja.
He claimed to have heard a federal legislator lamenting on the commendations he allegedly received from Abuja residents since he became minister.
“You, as a legislator, what have you done? How many bills have you sponsored for us to improve our education and health sector?
“I challenge that legislator. If you are very popular, in 2027 come and run under Abuja, we will fail you. Do you think that what happened last time will happen again? It will not happen again.
“Luckily for me, I am the FCT Minister now. So that is my territory and I’m not afraid,” Wike said.
Meanwhile, the senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe, had earlier appeared on Arise TV on Monday where she criticised Wike for sidelining her.
She also claimed that her constituency was being marginalised and that Abuja residents lacked access to clean water.
She added that most basic people’s needs like healthcare, water, education, and security were not provided for by the Federal Capital Territory Administration headed by Wike.
The ICIR reports that Wike is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but serving in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Kingibe belongs to the Labour Party (LP), a major opposition candidate.
Reacting to Wike’s threat, Moses Paul of the Free Nigeria Movement in a post on X described the minister’s action as ‘disgraceful’.
“It is a tragic reality that in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, public officials misappropriate government funds for trivial projects and then tout them as achievements. A perfect example is the recent use of public funds to merely paint streets, which is then egregiously touted as a remarkable accomplishment.
“This is the evidence of how entrenched corruption, impunity and mismanagement have become in our society,” he tweeted.
He said Kingibe’s stance on Wike’s performance highlighted the importance of prioritising critical sectors and ensuring that public funds are used effectively and efficiently, rather than being squandered on superficial projects and political grandstanding.
A presenter with The Arise TV, Rufai Oseni reacted to the incident with a question on his X handle.
“So has Mr wike become the lord of Abuja Wike to Ireti Kingibe: We’ll unseat you as FCT senator in 2027?” he asked.
Another X user in A.O. Yusuf of Sokoto in his reaction said Nigerians must rise to defend Kingigbe.
An X user One Gun General accused Wike of acting as if he owned the country
“They want everybody to remain quiet while they carry out their impunity. This is real fascism playing right in front of us.
Another X user Kolade Kayode said Kingigbe should learn to educate her people on how much the minister has gotten and what could have been done with such money.
“No time for gentlewoman politics. She must be seen standing with and for the people. She should tactically put the minister on the spot,” he tweeted.
Wike has been at loggerheads with Kingibe since he assumed office as the FCT minister.
A reporter with the ICIR
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