Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, firmly conveyed to Senator Ireti Kingibe that he cannot be compelled to befriend her. Wike criticized the Senator, alleging that instead of addressing her concerns through appropriate channels or concentrating on her oversight duties, she resorted to blackmailing him. The former Rivers Governor made these remarks during an interview with journalist in Abuja, asserting that the lawmaker’s discontent stemmed from being overlooked by the Senate President for the Senate Committee on FCT position.
“Somebody wants to be your friend and you say ‘ I don’t want to be your friend. Is it by force”‘ The problem is that she wanted to be Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT and the Senate President said ‘ I’m not giving you’. What are you going to supervise, me? You cannot supervise me. What is her interest, that i must see her? If i have a problem i’ll go and see her. I don’t have a problem. Nobody can intimidate me. Look, I was a Minister before. I became a governor of one of the most important states in Nigeria and she thinks that the only way you can bring me down is to go to Channels, TVC, saying the Minister is not carrying me along.
“I don’t have the back to carry. It’s not about blackmailing. Do the right thing. You know her problem? She ran election with my friend Philip Aduda and she sees me taking Philip everywhere instead of her being the Senator. Should i abandon my friend because he failed election?. Wike queried.