By Ebere Agozie
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mohammed Ndarani has called on all stakeholders in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), both elected and appointed, to cooperate with one another for the development of the FCT.
Ndarani made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) while reacting to what is being seen a supremacy battle between the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike and the Senator representing the FCT, Sen. Ireti Kingibe.
NAN recalls that Wike and Kingibe have not had a cordial working relationship since they assumed their respective offices as Kingibe had repeatedly accused Wike of sidelining her despite being the senator representing the FCT.
Ndarani said that both Wike and Kingibe working together will bring about positive change for the greater good of Nigeria.
“It is imperative for all stakeholders, both elected and appointed, to work together and abide with guiding rules of their different offices to strengthen one another as one big family’’.
He noted that Nigeria can’t achieve much success without one another’s support. He, therefore, craved the indulgence of all warring parties to please let peace reign.
“They should sheathe their swords, put their differences aside and work for the common good of the people of the FCT.
“Wike was appointed to serve the people of the FCT, Kingibe was elected to serve the people of the FCT, so, they should work together and think about the greater good of the people.
“People of the FCT look up to them to bring succor to the challenges that they are facing now, but when two elephants fight, the grass suffers,’’ he added.
He noted that although the two individuals are not from the same political party, previous elective and appointed officers of the FCT from different parties had always found a way of working together.
Ndarani, equally pointed out that these individuals have different roles to play in their respective positions, but all aimed ultimately to deliver the dividend of democracy to the people.
“Section 302 of the 1999 Constitution, says, “The President may, in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by Section 147 of this Constitution, appoint for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, a Minister who shall exercise such powers and perform such functions as may be delegated to him by the President, from time to time.
“While Ireti’s office as provided under section 48 of the 1999 constitution make laws for the peace and good governance of the people of Nigeria including the FCT’’.
“The functions and duties of the two offices are distinct but they must work together for the common good of the people of Nigeria and the FCT’’.
“Acctually, Wike is not answerable to the senator, just like the senator is not answerable to the minister either, they are both answerable to the president and the citizens of Nigeria.
To me, Wike’s developmental strides in the FCT is very commendable and he ought to be encouraged to do more with the cooperation and support of the distinguished senator.
“The ultimate goal here is the people, no minister has ever reported to any senator. Past FCT ministers and senators did not come from the same party, but they worked in synergy.
“Media war will not bring development to the people, cooperation is the key, so, I call on the two warring individuals to drop their differences and concentrate on delivering the dividends of democracy to the people’’.
NAN also recalls that Wike had on Monday tackled Kingibe, who had consistently accused him of sidelining her and the masses in the territory.
Kingibe had complained of how Wike has overlooked the priority needs of the bulk of FCT people partly due to a lack of communication between her and the minister. Angered by Kingibe’s uterances, Wike challenged Kingibe to test her popularity again at the 2027 election, vowing that he would make sure she doesn’t return to the upper chamber.
