Wike: My children are Nigerians, not Ghanaians — they have right to own land

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), says his children have the right to own lands in Nigeria.

Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Wike defended the rights of his children as Nigerian citizens to own land, 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 minister?,” Wike asked.

He, however, denied allegations that he allocated hectares of land in Maitama and Asokoro to his sons.

He said the accusations originated from Adamawa state, accusing an unnamed individual of orchestrating a 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.

The allegations, which surfaced online, claimed Wike allocated 2,082 hectares to one son through JOAQ Farms and Estates Limited and 1,740 hectares to another son, Jordan, totaling 3,822 hectares “worth $6.45 billion”.

However, Wike challenged the credibility of the claims, questioning where such vast land could be found in Maitama and Asokoro, two of Abuja’s most developed districts.

“The whole thing is rubbish. Where in Maitama and Asokoro can you find 2,000 hectares? Bring the documents, bring empirical evidence,” he said.