By Patrick Idowu
In a surprising turn of events, the senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Ireti Kingibe, has publicly thrown her support behind the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, setting aside a long-standing rift between them.
Kingibe made the declaration on Wednesday during the budget defence session at the National Assembly, where Wike presented the proposed N1.78 trillion FCT Statutory Budget for the 2025 fiscal year before the joint National Assembly Committee on the FCT.
“I as the senator representing the FCT, I want to also commend the FCT minister, Wike. It is a well-presented budget and I ask my colleagues to pass the N1.78 trillion budget as it is,” she said.
Her remarks came as a surprise to many, following months of open disagreements and tension between both leaders.
At the height of the feud in 2024, Wike famously told Kingibe to “hang herself on a transformer” if she was not pleased with his performance.
The senator had responded by calling for an apology, insisting her opposition was not personal but principled.
“He doesn’t obviously understand the concept of the FCT, if he did, it is nothing personal,” she had said.
But on Wednesday, the senator chose diplomacy over discord, urging swift passage of the budget and commending the minister’s presentation.
Wike’s proposal marks a significant financial push for infrastructure and development across the capital, and Kingibe’s endorsement may signal a new chapter of cooperation for the good of Abuja residents.
