By Safiyat Muhammed
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of being behind a series of “sponsored blackmail” campaigns accusing him of allocating prime Abuja lands to his children.
In a strongly worded statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Wike denied the allegations, calling them “futile blackmail” orchestrated to discredit his office and distract from ongoing development in the FCT under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
“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 statement said.
Olayinka pointed out that the recent narrative is a recycled version of a previously debunked allegation, adding that no land has been allocated to any of Wike’s children.
“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.”
He explained that the allocation of land for farming in Bwari Area Council to a company named JOAQ Farms was misrepresented to fit the narrative.
This week, another false story emerged claiming that land had been allocated to one of Wike’s sons simply because a company named Jordan Farms and Estates Limited was mentioned—coincidentally sharing the same name as one of the minister’s sons.
“Even though, like other Nigerians, it is the right 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,” the statement clarified.
Olayinka maintained that Jordan Farms and Estates Limited is a duly registered Nigerian company and none of Wike’s children are directors of the entity.
He challenged the accusers to publish ownership records from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) if they have contrary evidence.
“That one of the sons of the FCT Minister is Jordan and there is a company named Jordan Farms and Estates Limited is no reason anyone should conclude that the company belongs to Wike’s son.”
“There are companies like Jordan Telecommunications, Jordan Foods, etc. Are they also owned by Wike’s son?” Olayinka asked rhetorically.
He also dismissed concerns over the appearance of Wike’s security aide’s name on some of the documents, saying:
“If I choose to assist my friend, associate or relative to collect property documents, does that confer ownership of the property on me?”
The aide insisted that no amount of political blackmail or propaganda would derail Wike’s commitment to infrastructural reforms and service delivery in Abuja.
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