Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT...
Olayinka, in a statement issued on Tuesday, described the circulating reports as “sponsored blackmail”, insisting that the claims are baseless and untrue.
“As usual, this sponsored blackmail has failed,” he declared.
“Those behind these attempts to blackmail the FCT Minister will need to put in more effort.”
He accused certain political actors of being behind the coordinated attacks on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, due to his stance on power rotation and his ongoing developmental efforts under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
Referring to a recent accusation, Olayinka explained that there were false reports about Wike allocating 2,082 hectares of land in Asokoro and Maitama to one of his sons, a claim he dismissed as “propaganda”.
“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 said.
He clarified that the referenced document actually concerned land allocated for farming in Bwari Area Council to a company called JOAQ Farms, not any relative of the Minister.
Olayinka also addressed fresh allegations involving a company named Jordan Farms and Estates Limited, dismissing assumptions that it was linked to Wike’s son simply because his son’s name is Jordan.
“Even though 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,” he said.
“That one of the sons of the FCT Minister is named Jordan, and there is a company named Jordan Farms and Estates Limited, does not mean the company belongs to him.”
He challenged those spreading the rumours to produce evidence from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) showing that any of Wike’s children are directors of the said company.
“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.”
To illustrate the absurdity of the allegations, Olayinka said:
“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?”
He also questioned the logic behind linking land ownership to a name appearing on a document handled by a security aide.
“If I choose to assist my friend, associate or relative to collect property documents, does that confer ownership of the property on me?”
Finally, Olayinka accused a political actor from Adamawa State — whom he didn’t name — of fueling the smear campaign against the Minister.
“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 efforts.
“Just like the one of last week, this one too has failed — even before its commencement,” he said.
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