The ongoing political tension between Senator Ireti Kingibe and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, intensified on Tuesday as the Minister’s aide accused the lawmaker of hypocrisy, misconduct, and neglecting the welfare of her staff.
Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, issued a strongly worded statement, calling on Senator Kingibe to “stop being shameless” and focus on resolving internal issues within her office, including the alleged non-payment of salaries to her legislative aides for several months.
This response follows Senator Kingibe’s recent remarks on a television program, where she criticized Minister Wike, claiming he was disconnected from the realities faced by residents of the FCT. She alleged that his style of governance was fueling discontent among the people, and that his emphasis on development projects was not addressing deeper needs within the territory.
In reaction, Olayinka described Kingibe’s comments as ironic, accusing her of mistreating her aides and failing to fulfill her obligations to them. “It is laughable that someone who has reportedly withheld the salaries and entitlements of her own aides for as long as six months is criticizing another public official for being out of touch,” Olayinka said.
He further alleged that several aides had resigned due to unpaid wages and other issues. “We are aware of how many of her aides have walked away because of unpaid salaries and moral controversies,” he said, while claiming to have knowledge of other personal matters involving the senator, though he declined to elaborate further.
Olayinka also questioned Senator Kingibe’s use of funds allocated for constituency projects, demanding clarity on an alleged N3 billion envelope awarded to her last year. He claimed that some of the contracts tied to her office were sold at between 15 and 20 percent of their actual value.
He dismissed any suggestion that Wike would be drawn into political drama, saying the Minister remains committed to his mandate. “The Minister will not be a tool for reviving the political relevance of Senator Ireti Kingibe,” he stated.
According to him, Wike is focused on delivering infrastructure across the FCT, including both urban centers and satellite communities. He noted that 16 projects were commissioned last Friday as part of activities marking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second year in office, and more are expected in the coming months.
The exchange marks the latest episode in the growing political rivalry between the FCT Senator and the Minister, as both figures continue to shape the discourse around governance and development in the nation’s capita
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