Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike has taken a swipe at his critics over recent remarks on the increase of abductions in the Nation’s capital.
Wike in a viral video said these politicians want to paint the Tinubu Administration in bad colours as well as create tension in Abuja.
He said: “Some politicians are bent on making sure the government does not survive. And how do you do it? By creating unnecessary tension, carrying propaganda that something just happened here, they tell you it has happened 25 times. You must understand how our system works. They are those who are blackmailers, who are paid.
“You cannot stop total crime. Let somebody tell me as a professional that there is anywhere in this world where there is no crime. Because kidnapping happened last night in one or two places, therefore, there is insecurity in the whole of FCT. That is not correct”
“When we came here, people say everything in Abuja has collapsed, no street light, no road. How many of you have even come out to commend us in these five months? All you do is pick one that has not been solved or that appears to be the problem. You forget the ones that the government has put effort which has yielded results,” he added.
Days before the minister’s viral video, the Senator Representing the Federal Capital Territory, Ireti Kingibe complained in an interview with Channels TV that Wike does not consult with elected members of the National Assembly.
The lawmaker during a recent appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today, said the FCT minister Mr. Nyesom Wike, does not have good knowledge of the capital city, even as he doesn’t collaborate with members of the National Assembly representing the FCT.
The Labour Party swept the presidential and National Assembly elections in 2023 despite the APC winning the presidential election nationwide.
Kingibe said she has resorted to taking the problem of insecurity in the FCT to the highest levels of government.
She said: “I even took it up at the highest echelon of Government because I know that these things are really happening. I have lived in the FCT since 1988 and I can see how insecure it’s become but there are certain issues we need to address.
“Part of the problem I must say is that there is a big disconnect between the Minister of the FCT and elected officials. I will be specific, the House of Reps member and myself.
“The truth of the matter is that the Minister is new to the territory. We are the ones that have historical knowledge of the whole area and it is imperative we work together. If we don’t work together, that’s what exactly is happening”.
When asked if the Minister of the FCT consults with representative elected by the people, the senator revealed that she has been snubbed by Wike at different times.
Sen. Kingibe said: “I have never met the Minister until he came for appropriation. I have reached out to him several times. The Minister for some reason thinks Senator Aduda (ex-Senator of the FCT) is still the Senator, unfortunately that’s not the case. I have written him one or two letters, I have WhatsApp messages sent to him, and I didn’t get a response.
“I am only a Senator but it is the job of Wike, the FCT minister, but as far as he’s concerned, they’re no elected reps of the FCT. That’s the issue. But we’ll invite him when NASS resumes to tell us his plans for protecting the FCT. Whether or not he responds is a different matter entirely”.
The lawmaker however thanked security agencies for putting their best, adding they should start being proactive and responsive. She also decried the number of police personnel posted for VIP protection.
“I thank the Security Agencies for doing something when we started to scream but the truth is that a little bit earlier I tried to draw their attention and I was told that it was exaggerated.
“On the root cause of the worsening state of insecurity in the FCT, Senator Ireti said” I would say without exaggerating that maybe a quarter of the Police Force are guarding VIP, which is not their primary function.”