The senator‑elect for the Federal Capital Territory, Ireti Kingibe, sat down with Friday Olokor to discuss her journey to the Red Chamber, her plans for her constituency, and her thoughts on the dwindling representation of women in the legislature.
When asked whether she was confident of victory from the outset, Kingibe explained that she believed the FCT, like the rest of the country, needed change. “People always need hope,” she said, noting that her name in Yoruba means hope. She hoped that voters would look to her for that hope, and while she did not expect such a resounding win, the result showed that the electorate was craving something different. She stressed that the victory belongs to the people, not to her personally.
Regarding the role of Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, Kingibe acknowledged that his presence helped. “APC and PDP have been around for a long time, and with no prejudice to their leaders, the people needed a change,” she said. While the Labour Party offered an alternative, she added that voters ultimately choose candidates they like, regardless of their presidential preference.
On the recent court case demanding that the FCT be treated as a state, Kingibe said she is a realist and a law‑abiding citizen. The FCT’s status is entrenched in the constitution, so a constitutional amendment would be required to make it a state. “If I spend all my efforts on that, leaving behind issues of water, electricity and bad roads, we may end up facing the same problems years from now,” she warned. She affirmed her intention to work within the existing framework to improve life in the FCT.
She also expressed interest in a bill that would give the FCT a special status, first proposed by former Senator Khairat Gwadabe, who represented the territory from 1999 to 2003. Kingibe said she would continue the work of Senator (Philip) Aduda and pursue that legislation.
Addressing the decline in female representation in both chambers of the National Assembly, Kingibe rejected the notion that it is a deliberate attempt to silence women. “It is a careless attitude,” she said, emphasizing that Nigeria cannot ignore half its population if it wants optimal development. She called for legislation to ensure a 35 % quota for women, citing successful examples from Indonesia, Rwanda and other countries. “Nigeria ranks 180 out of 186 countries for women in governance, the lowest in Africa. That is an embarrassing position for the whole nation, not just for women,” she added.
When asked about alleged attempts to short‑change her during the collation of results, Kingibe said the alarm she raised was simply that the FCT results should be announced promptly. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) eventually declared her the winner, and while a few individuals may have acted improperly, the overall process was carried out responsibly.
On the perception that the FCT has been marginalized, Kingibe noted that previous senators were not indigenous, making her election as the first Gbagi senator a significant change. She observed that feelings of marginalisation are common across Nigeria—Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba groups all voice similar concerns.
Regarding the public’s loss of respect for the National Assembly, Kingibe said the change will not come from a single individual. With about 72 new senators entering the chamber, she believes they collectively understand the people’s frustrations and will work to make a difference, moving away from “business as usual.”
When asked which legislation she considers most urgent for the FCT, Kingibe listed several priorities: health bills, education, water, power, security, and expanding telecommunications networks to rural areas. She also highlighted the need for a robust transportation system, beginning with a public‑bus network, and for mass housing to address the growing shanty towns and exorbitant rents.
Kingibe explained that she contemplated leaving politics two years ago but decided to stay after reflecting on her desire to see the FCT progress. “Fate and the hand of God guided me,” she said, noting that the Labour Party offered her a ticket and that former colleagues encouraged her to run again.
On the rumor that she will donate her salary to an emergency fund, Kingibe clarified that she intends to contribute her basic salary to a fund that can be accessed quickly for urgent projects in the FCT.
When questioned about responsibility for the FCT’s challenges, she said both the FCT minister and the senator share accountability. “The minister handles many matters, but the senator provides oversight. It is a combination of factors, and we need to examine each case before assigning blame.”
Looking ahead, Kingibe pledged to improve education to global standards, empower women and youth, promote agro‑processing, and push for the Mayoral Bill to establish a proper transportation system. She also emphasized the need for mass housing and reliable water provision.
Her persistence in politics since 2003 stems from two sources: the strong grassroots support she received in her first election and her belief that politics is a form of service. Despite the stresses of campaigning, she remains confident in her appearance, attributing it perhaps to genetics.
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