The Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Ireti Kingibe, has launched a blistering attack on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, describing his unilateral imposition of a curfew across the nation’s capital as “authoritarian, ill-considered, and unacceptable”.
In a press statement released on Friday, Kingibe accused the Minister of executive overreach and a direct affront to democratic governance, warning that the residents of Abuja are “citizens of a democratic republic,” not “subjects under a dictatorship”.
In the statement signed by her Special Assistant on Media, Matilda Duncan, the lawmaker argued that there were no serious security breaches in the FCT to warrant such a sweeping restriction on movement.
She noted that while the Area Council elections were approaching, security concerns should not serve as a justification for executive overreach.
The statement read in part, “The Minister should please note that he is not the first to administer this territory and this is not the first election taking place here. FCT residents are citizens of a democratic republic, not subjects under a dictatorship.
“Decisions that significantly impact the lives, livelihoods, and fundamental rights of our people must be subjected to transparency, scrutiny, and broad consultation with critical stakeholders.”
The Senator further warned that the curfew would inflict severe economic hardship on small business owners and daily wage earners who rely on evening trade to survive.
She also raised concerns over the diplomatic implications of the restriction, noting that ECOWAS Parliamentarians were expected to arrive on Sunday for a 10-day extraordinary meeting.
According to Kingibe, the curfew would also disrupt several pre-planned social events, including weddings, receptions, and embassy functions scheduled for the weekend.
“The FCT is a diplomatic and commercial hub. Such draconian measures without a clear, present, and extreme danger only serve to create panic and damage our international standing,” she added.
The face-off between the Senator and the Minister marks a fresh chapter in the ongoing friction over the administration and governance of the Federal Capital Territory.
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