Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has accused Senator Ireti Kingibe of grandstanding on television instead of using her legislative powers to address flooding and other problems in Abuja.
The Minister said her criticism of the FCT Administration was motivated by flagging election prospects.
Speaking after inspecting flood-affected sections of Maitama district in Abuja, Minister Wike dismissed recent allegations that the administration had allocated waterways to politicians for estate development.
He challenged Ms. Kingibe to show work in the National Assembly rather than seek a public working relationship with the FCT team through media appearances.
“If she knows that there’s a problem, she’s the one who makes the law. National Assembly is her own House of Assembly,” Wike said.
The Minister also accused the Senator of prioritising television over bills and floor debate.
“Why should she, every time, ‘working with her, working with her’? I was not appointed to work with only one particular person. I work with everybody.”
He urged legislators to advertise their impact by sponsoring legislation and speaking on the Assembly floor about constituency problems.
“Go and talk to the people! Tell them what you are doing in the National Assembly! Tell them the bill you have proposed for the benefit of the residents of Abuja,” he said.
Minister Wike also tied Ms. Kingibe’s public criticism to the run-up to elections, asserting she had “almost lost” and was attempting to regain favour.
“I don’t blame her now, because she has almost lost the election. All she’s doing next is to see whether she can get the people,” he said, adding that repeated attacks on the FCT Administration would not change voters’ perception.
On allegations that the administration had approved construction on waterways for politicians, Minister Wike issued a categorical denial and demanded proof. He invited critics to disclose specific properties, owners and approval documents if they had them.
“I want to deny categorically that this administration allocates water channel way for people to go and develop,” he said. “If we allocate it, then why do we have to go and demolish?”
Wike accused detractors of misunderstanding, or misrepresenting, the Abuja Master Plan.
“You cannot determine which area is a water channel to FCT. You cannot determine for us! You don’t know the Master Plan more than us!” he said, calling blanket accusations irresponsible and urging anyone with evidence to come forward.
The Minister also pushed back on portrayals of the flooding as a new phenomenon, pointing to long-standing problems in neighbourhoods such as Lokogoma and Yakubu Gowon Crescent.
“Lokogoma flooding has been happening there year to year,” he said, adding that some roads have repeatedly flooded since their construction.
While welcoming constructive criticism that helps government respond to problems, Minister Wike warned against politicised attacks aimed at electoral gain.
“Please, do us well and do the nation well by giving positive criticism, not political criticism that you think will help you to win an election that you cannot win,” he said.
Wike reiterated that the FCT Administration would continue to enforce planning regulations and demolish structures found to obstruct designated waterways regardless of ownership.
“So, I hope now that we have started to demolish, you won’t cry to say, ‘Oh, it’s against a political opponent,’” he said, adding that demolitions were driven by planning rules rather than political considerations.
Minister Wike closed by welcoming input from residents and stakeholders who draw attention to infrastructure and environmental problems, saying such engagement was “the essence of governance.”
