Mr. Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has refuted claims that his children have been allocated land in Abuja.
Wike, speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, dismissed the allegations as “sponsored blackmail that, as usual, has failed.”
In a statement sent to Persecondnews on Tuesday, Olayinka said those attempting to blackmail the Minister would need to do better, adding that “nothing will stop him from pursuing his development agenda for the FCT in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope initiative”.
The statement reads: “Last week, false propaganda claimed Minister Wike allocated 2,082 hectares of land in Asokoro and Maitama to one of his sons, despite no such land being available in these areas. They fabricated this claim using a document about land allocation for farming in Bwari Area Council to a company called JOAQ Farms.
“This week, they are spreading more falsehoods about land allocation to another son, based on documents showing land allocation to Jordan Farms.
“While the Minister’s children, like any other Nigerian citizens, have the right to own land anywhere in the country, including the FCT, provided they meet the necessary requirements, it is important to clarify that no land has been allocated to any of the Minister’s children to date.
“Land was indeed allocated to Jordan Farms and Estates Limited, a duly registered Nigerian company; however, none of the Minister’s children serve as directors of the company.
“That one of the sons of the FCT Minister is Jordan and there is a company, Jordan Farms and Estates Limited is no reason anyone should conclude that the company belongs to Wike’s son.
“Records of ownership of the company is available at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and we challenge purveyors of these stories to publish names of the company owners.
“For instance, my name is Lere Olayinka, and there is Lere Local Government in Kaduna State. Do I own the Local Government? Am I even from Kaduna State? There are companies like Jordan Telecommunications, Jordan Foods, etc. Are they also owned by Wike’s son?. In the United Kingdom, there is Jordan’s Farms. Is the company also owned by Wike’s son?”
The statement further reads: “On the document showing the name and signature of one of the Minister’s security aides, the question to be asked is simple, who owns the company; Hyper Communications Limited? If I choose to assist my friend, associate or relative to collect property documents, does that confer ownership of the property on me?
“Therefore, let that fellow from Adamawa State, who is struggling to get at the FCT Minister for supporting power rotation between the Northern and Southern parts of Nigeria put more efforts. This is because, just like the one of last week, this one too has failed even before its commencement.”
Persecondnews recalls that this is not the first time such allegations have surfaced; on June 26, Olayinka denied claims circulating online that the Minister had allocated over 2,000 hectares of land in the Maitama and Asokoro districts to one of his sons.
Olayinka labelled the publication “another falsehood” emanating from individuals intent on maligning the Minister, stating firmly that “none of the Minister’s children have been allocated a single plot of land”.
He dismissed the allegations as the handiwork of “quack journalists, who lacked basic training in journalism,” questioning the logic behind the story.
“In Asokoro and Maitama of today, where can the FCT Minister see 2,082 hectares of land to allocate to anyone?
“Only quack journalists will go to town with story of allocation of 2,082 hectares of land in Asokoro and Maitama, reason some of us have continually advocated for professionalism in journalism,” he said.
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