The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has fired back at FCT Senator, Ireti Kingibe, over a statement about his restriction of movement in Abuja.

Gkingmusik recalls that Wike, in a special broadcast on Thursday, declared Friday a work-free day in the nation’s capital in preparation for the council polls.

He, thereafter, announced a restriction on human and vehicular movement across the FCT from 8pm on Friday to 6pm on Saturday.

Reacting to the development via a statement signed by her Special Assistant on Media, Matilda Duncan, Kingibe stated that the Minister’s directive is a direct affront to democratic governance and the constitutional rights of residents.

She said, “The people of the FCT are not subjects under a dictatorship. They are citizens of a democratic republic. Any sweeping restriction on their movement and livelihoods must be justified by compelling evidence, subjected to scrutiny, and carried out with transparency.”

While acknowledging the importance of maintaining law and order, Kingibe emphasised that security concerns cannot serve as a blanket justification for “executive overreach”.

However, Wike, speaking with journalists on Saturday during the monitoring of the FCT Area Council election, said as a Senator, Kingibe should be able to read.

According to the minister, he did not impose curfew without the approval of President Bola Tinubu.

He said, “It is unfortunate, I thought as a Senator she should be able to read. I never imposed a curfew on my own. I said with the approval of Mr. President.

“I don’t want to join issues. At the end of the election, when the results come out, then we will know who is who.”