There’s nothing wrong with allocating Abuja land to my children – Wike

• Wike denied the allegation, saying it’s the handiwork of his detractors who want to tarnish his image.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has cleared the air on reports that he allocated swathes of land in Abuja to his sons.

Reports had emerged in the media that Wike allocated 2,082 hectares to one son through JOAQ Farms and Estates Limited and 1,740 hectares to another son, Jordan, totalling 3,822 hectares “worth $6.45 billion”.

However, Wike denied the allegation, saying it’s the handiwork of his detractors who want to tarnish his image.

But he said his children have the right to own land as Nigerian citizens, provided due process is followed.

“Assuming, though not conceding, my children applied for land. Are they not citizens? Are they Ghanaians? Even if they applied, are they not entitled because I’m a minister?” he said during a media parley on Thursday in Abuja.

He stated that an individual from Adamawa State is behind the smear campaign to undermine his leadership.

“First, calculate land in Maitama and Asokoro and tell me where you’d get 2000 hectares of land. And I know where it is coming from. It is from Adamawa state. I am aware,” he said.

While challenging the credibility of the claims, he quizzed: “The whole thing is rubbish. Where in Maitama and Asokoro can you find 2,000 hectares? Bring the documents, bring empirical evidence.”

He asked those pushing the narrative of him allocating land to his sons to back up their claim with irrefutable proof.

“Assuming, though not conceding, it doesn’t make sense, if I look at my file, most of you have applied for lands and you want me to allocate to you, but if my children apply, I should not allocate because I’m the minister? Bring the document, bring empirical evidence.”

He also dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu directed that he should be investigated over the matter, adding that those affected by his land revocation action are fighting back.

Those who said that the President directed me to be investigated, let them wait for the President to invite me, do you think the President has no job to do?

“You have to understand that when you are trying to correct certain things, people will also fight you back. We are taking decisions to revoke lands and people will make sure that they fight back.”