In a recent interview with Seun Okinbaloye, Senator Ireti Heebah Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), expressed deep concerns about the escalating insecurity in Abuja, shedding light on a perceived disconnect between elected officials and the Minister of the FCT.
Senator Kingibe, who has resided in the FCT since 1988, emphasized the urgent need to address the security challenges. He revealed a significant gap in communication and collaboration between the Minister of the FCT and elected representatives, specifically citing the House of Representatives member and himself.
According to Senator Kingibe, the Minister’s newness to the territory creates a hindrance to effective cooperation. He stressed the importance of working together to tackle the security issues effectively. The Senator lamented that despite his attempts to reach out to the Minister through letters and messages, he has not received a response.
Seun Okin interjected, questioning whether the Minister listens to the elected representatives, to which Senator Kingibe disclosed that he had never met the Minister until an appropriation meeting. Despite numerous attempts at communication, the Senator highlighted a lack of response from the Minister, indicating a concerning lack of engagement with elected officials.
Acknowledging the efforts of the Security Agencies, Senator Kingibe expressed gratitude for their intervention when the issue gained public attention. However, he pointed out that earlier attempts to draw their attention were dismissed as exaggerated.
When asked about his plans to defend the people of the FCT at the National Assembly, Senator Kingibe clarified that while he is only a Senator, it is the responsibility of the FCT Minister, Wike, to address security concerns. He raised a critical issue, stating that the Minister perceives there are no elected representatives for the FCT, creating a significant hurdle in effective governance.
Senator Ireti Heebah Kingibe concluded by revealing a potential root cause of the worsening insecurity, stating, “I would say without exaggerating that maybe a quarter of the Police Force are guarding VIP, which is not their primary function.”
The Senator announced plans to invite the Minister to the National Assembly when it resumes, seeking clarification on his plans for protecting the FCT. Whether the Minister responds to this invitation remains uncertain, leaving the fate of the FCT’s security in question.
