Wike
Federal Capital Territory minister, Nyesom Wike, has again denied widespread allegations that he allocated lands to any of his children, insisting that the ongoing reports are another failed attempt at blackmail.
A statement issued on Tuesday by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the FCT, dismissed the allegations as baseless and mischievous.
Wike had earlier denied reports stating that he had allocated 2,082 hectares of land in Maitama and Asokoro to his son through a farming company, Joaq Farms and Estates Limited.
(https://punchng.com/wike-denies-2082-hectare-land-allocation-to-son/)
Responding to allegations of another purported allocation of lands to another one of his sons, Olayinka accused unnamed political actors of orchestrating a smear campaign against the minister, adding that such efforts would not derail Wike’s ongoing developmental initiatives under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
“As usual, this sponsored blackmail has failed. Those seeking to blackmail the FCT Minister will need to put more effort,” he said.
“Nothing will stop him from continuing with his developmental efforts in the FCT in accordance with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda,” he added.
The media aide argued that the previous report alleging the allocation of 2,082 hectares of land had no solid evidence, stating that everyone, including the minister’s children, has a constitutional right to own property anywhere in the country if they meet legal requirements.
“Last week, it was unfounded and poorly carried out propaganda of Wike allocating 2,082 hectares of land in Asokoro and Maitama to one of his sons, even when no such land is available in the two districts combined.
“They used a document showing allocation of land for farming in Bwari Area Council to a company, JOAQ Farms, to justify the falsehood. This week, it is tales of allocation of land to another son of the Minister because documents showed allocation of lands to a company, Jordan Farms.
“Even though like other Nigerians, it is the rights of children of the Minister, his friends, associates and relatives to own lands anywhere in the country, including the FCT, provided all necessary conditions are met, as at today, no land has been allocated to any of the Minister’s children,” he said.
He further clarified that although land was indeed allocated to Jordan Farms and Estates Limited, the company is a legally registered Nigerian entity with no ties to any of the minister’s children.
“No doubt, land was duly allocated to Jordan Farms and Estates Limited, a company duly registered in Nigeria, with none of the children of the FCT Minister 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 are available at the Corporate Affairs Commission, and we challenge purveyors of these stories to publish the 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?” Lere queried.
He also took a swipe at one of the minister’s critics, alleging political vendetta, stating, “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.”
The Punch
