Kingibe, Wike in heated phone row, Akpabio brokers truce

 

The Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ireti Kingibe, has revealed details of a heated telephone exchange between her and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, saying the intervention of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, was required to calm frayed nerves.

Kingibe made the disclosure on Friday during an appearance on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television.

According to the lawmaker, she persistently tried to reach the minister over what she described as an urgent issue before he eventually answered her call, noting that the conversation quickly degenerated into a shouting match.

“I have Wike’s number and he has mine too. I have called him before. He didn’t answer, and I kept calling until he picked up,” she said.

She explained that moments after he answered, both of them exchanged heated words and raised their voices before ending the call abruptly.

The senator further disclosed that the matter was later resolved following the intervention of the Senate President, who initiated a three-way conversation between both parties.

“The Senate President intervened and did a three-way call, and we resolved the issue. For me, that issue was urgent, and that’s why I called him. I was determined he was going to pick up,” she added.

Kingibe also recounted asking the minister if she could see him in his office, but said he declined.

“I said, ‘Are you in your office? Let me come and see you.’ He said, ‘No, no, don’t come here yet.’ He sounded as if I was going to harm him,” she said.

Although she did not disclose the exact subject of the disagreement, the senator maintained that the issue was eventually settled after the Senate President’s intervention.