Senator denies rift with FCT Minister, Wike

By Christiana Ekpa

The Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), in the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, Ireti Kingibe, says there is no rift between her and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Kingibe also emphasized that the ambiguity in the separation of powers in the FCT warrants careful examination.
“It’s important to recognise that the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, operates differently from other regions; here, the highest elected official is the Senator, as opposed to a governor.
“Moreover, we only have two representatives in the House of Representatives. The division of powers between the executive and the legislature in the FCT is ambiguous and warrants careful examination.
“Historically, despite the structural issues, previous ministers have acknowledged the legislators as the people’s representatives and collaborated with them to address the populace’s needs, thereby mitigating these systemic flaws.
“It is imperative for every minister to recognise that the National Assembly and its members have a supervisory role over their actions. This oversight appears to be the crux of the current contention.,’’ she stated.
She, however, expressed her commitment to working with all parties to address the needs of the people, prioritizing security, hunger, water, hospitals, and schools.
“As a senator, there are numerous initiatives I am eager to pursue, provided our budget allows it. I aim to prioritize, especially the smaller, yet significant, aspects of governance,” she added.