Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has emphasized that the Minister will not engage with “professional scammers and hustlers” masquerading as activists.
In a statement released on Saturday, the FCT Minister’s spokesperson pointed out that many individuals leaping from one social media platform to another to criticize the Minister do so solely because he has ignored them, rendering their deceptive schemes ineffective.
He stated, “Growing up in the hilly town of Okemesi Ekiti, my grandfather taught me a valuable lesson: never wrestle with pigs. He warned us that the danger lies in the fact that at the end of that struggle, sane minds will see no distinction between you and the pig you fought.
“Thus, as a matter of principle, we will not dignify certain individuals with any response.
“This is especially true considering we are aware of an emergency activist who diverted election funds to purchase a petrol station, as well as instances where so-called activists have fought over protest money, including incidents in 2019.
“In 2016, during my candidacy for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Publicity Secretary, someone approached me about the lucrative opportunities that awaited if I won. This person suggested we work together, with him sourcing information for press statements against public officials, while he would negotiate payments from those officials.
“Today, that person is among those pretending to be activists. Therefore, we refuse to engage with them.”
Olayinka further remarked, “The tactics of these hustlers masquerading as activists remain consistent. They threaten and blackmail by generating media noise or staging protests. They are the same individuals who will later arrange for someone to approach you, claiming they can facilitate a resolution. Once you comply, they return with exorbitant bills that you must cover before they move on to their next target, usually public officials.
“There are those whose primary expertise lies in orchestrating press conferences either in support of or against someone, all for a fee.”
“Unfortunately for these hustler-activists, Wike does not engage in such games, which is why they are frustrated.”
“Hence, they may shout and shout, but the Minister will continue to ignore them and focus on his responsibilities, the results of which are evident across the FCT.”
On the issue of land acquisition, Olayinka challenged those making such claims to provide evidence of any lands that the FCT Minister has unjustly seized.
“If so-called educated individuals are labeling the removal of shanties that pose security threats as land grabbing, it is evident their education serves no purpose.
“People have encroached upon unoccupied lands without any authorization, constructing makeshift homes with planks and tarpaulin.
“For instance, when the FCT Minister visited a shanty in Wuye, adjacent to a residential estate and near a rail line, the residents candidly admitted they had no permission to occupy the area. They acknowledged that previous governments had cleared that shanty a total of 21 times, with the recent clearance marking the 22nd.
“The only request from the occupants to the FCT Ministry has been for relocation, and a meeting with their representatives was held on Tuesday.
“If this is what our hustler-activists refer to as land grabbing, I pity those who still consider them educated,” he concluded.
