By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, SSA, to the FCT Minister Barr. Nysome has debunked false publication flying around that his principal, has allocated 2,082 hectares of land to one of his sons in Maitama and Asokoro.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Olayinka said that such claims were another lie from quack journalists, and described as “another falsehood from the vault of those whose main job is to malign the FCT Minister.”
Olayinka said, “not even a single plot of land has been allocated to any of the Minister’s children.”
He therefore called on the public to disregard such claims as malicious falsehood.
He stated that those behind the publication, as quack journalists, lack basic training in journalism, emphasizing the need for professional journalism.
Olayinka asked, “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 such a fabricated story on the allocation of 2,082 hectares of land in Asokoro and Maitama.
The FCT Minister’s Spokesperson challenged the online publisher of a “malicious and bitterness painted publication”, as he called for provision of evidence of any land allocation bearing the name of the Minister’s children.
The statement read; “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 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.”
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