Insecurity In FCT: There’s A Disconnect Between Wike & Elected Officials-kingibe

Rising Insecurity in Abuja:
Excerpts of Seun Okinbaloye’s interview with Ireti Heebah Kingibe, Senator representing the FCT

Sen. Kingibe: 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.

Seun Okin (cuts in): Does the Minister of the FCT listen to you, as the political representative elected by the people?

Sen. Kingibe: 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.

Sen Kingibe: 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.

Seun Okin: How do you plan to defend the people of the FCT whom you represent at the NASS?

Sen. Kingibe: 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 the NASS resumes to tell us his plans for protecting the FCT. Whether or not he responds is a different matter entirely.

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.”