Lere Olayinka, senior special assistant on public communications and social media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that any land has been allocated to the Minister’s children.
In a statement on Tuesday, Olayinka described the allegations as “sponsored blackmail” aimed at discrediting the Minister, insisting the efforts had failed.
“As usual, this sponsored blackmail has failed,” he stated.
He challenged those behind the allegations to put in more effort, stressing that nothing would deter the Minister from advancing his developmental initiatives in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
Olayinka referenced recent claims that Wike allocated 2,082 hectares of land in Asokoro and Maitama to one of his sons, calling it unfounded propaganda. “No such land is even available in the two districts combined,” he said.
According to him, the alleged evidence was a misrepresented document showing land allocation for farming to JOAQ Farms in the Bwari Area Council. He added that fresh claims of another allocation to a different son were also false, noting the cited documents involved a company named 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.
“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, which 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 (CAC), and we challenge purveyors of these stories to publish the names of the company owners.
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“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?
“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 in more effort. This is because, just like the one of last week, this one too has failed even before its commencement.”