The Minister of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has refuted claimed that he had allocated 2,082 hectares of land to one of his sons in Maitama and Asokoro.
In a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on public communication and New media, Mr Lere Olayinka described the purported report as another falsehood from the vault of those whose main job is to malign the FCT Minister.
The Minister’s Aide said “not even a single plot of land has been allocated to any of the Minister’s children.”
Lere hinted that, ” those behind the publication as quack journalists, who lacked basic training in journalism, asking; “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, then challenged the online publisher of what he described as malicious and bitterness painted publication to provide evidence of any land allocation bearing the name of any of the Minister’s children.
According to the Minister’s Spokesperson, “My attention has been drawn to yet, another malicious falsehood coming from the same elements whose job is to defame and malign the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
“Even though it is the right of the Minister and members of his family, both immediate and extended to own lands anywhere in Nigeria, including the FCT, provided all necessary conditions are met, no land has been allocated to any of his children.
“In the publication, a Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) issued to JOAQ Farms and Estate Limited, for Agricultural purpose was the only evidence used to justify the claim.
“For the avoidance of doubt, JOAQ Farms and Estate Limited, a company duly registered in Nigeria got land allocation in Bwari Area Council for the purpose of farming.
“So what’s is wrong with a farmer getting land allocation strictly for the purpose of agriculture?
“Therefore, the publication, claiming that the FCT Minister allocated 2,082 hectares of land to his son, is false and should be disregarded.”
Olusola Akintonde