Former FCT Minister of State denies holding official car, hijack of Hajj slots, others, Threatens redress in court.
By Yahaya Idris, Abuja.
Former Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, Hajiya Ramatu Tijani Aliyu, has debunked allegations levelled against her, published by an online platform.
The publication carried by an online platform captioned ” Former FCT Minister of State Refuses To Give Up Official Car ” authored by one Toyin Adebayo.
The publication further claimed that the accomodations challenge some FCT Pilgrims faced a couple of days ago while on Hajj in the holy Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was occasioned by her purported hijacking of the FCT slots.
It also alleged that two of her aides failed to vacate offices even after her exit.
Hajia Ramatu in a press statement she personally signed, said ordinarily she could have ignored the falsehood and blackmail and concentrate on Holy Hajj devotion out here in the Holy Land, but for the benefit of all unassuming and fair-minded readers I have decided to set the records straight.
Hajia Ramatu who is currently in the Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj, while putting the records straight , declared that, ” all official vehicles used by me during my tenure were relinquished upon my exit as a Minister and in line with standard procedure.
” Secondly, the allegations of hijack of FCT pilgrims slots is baseless because the official procedure adopted by organs responsible for Pilgrimage affairs is not conducive to it. Our preparations and ratings in the FCT Pilgrims Board while I was in office received positive acclaim and commendations in the preceding years.
” After my departure from office my influence on the operations and its success is limited. Even then I had to go out of my way to insist a better accommodation be provided when I became aware of the challenge faced by some of the Pilgrims.
” Lastly, I wish to state categorically that I do not have any aides still in the FCTA. The letter of appointment issued by the FCTA to Special Assistant on Special Investment Programme (SIP) has termination date in August 2023., while the Special Assistant on Climate Change is in fact a staff of FCTA who I engaged from within the system as a cost cutting measure while in office. Both are employees of the FCTA, not mine.”
Hajia Ramatu expressed shock on the ignorance of the author of the the blantant blackmail, wondered and at a loss as to what could have motivated the author and her co-travelers to embark on this unfounded and mischievous misadventure.
Hajia Ramatu therefore invites the author of the unfortunate publication and her sponsors to retract this piece of defamation and tender their open and unreserved apology to her and her family through the same medium they used to spread the malicious propaganda, or they will have to accept the invitation to stand before the law.
Below is the press statement issued by the immediate past State FCT Minister
RE: FORMER FCT MINISTER OF STATE REFUSES TO GIVE UP OFFICIAL CAR
My attention has been drawn to an online publication made on 22nd of June, 2023 with the above caption claiming that I failed to relinquish my official vehicle after exiting office. Apparently authored by one Toyin Adebayo, it further claimed that the accommodation challenge some FCT pilgrims faced a couple of days ago while on Hajj Pilgrimage in the Holy Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was occasioned by my purported hijacking of the FCT slots. It then went on to allege that two of my aides failed to vacate their offices even after my exit.
Ordinarily I would have concentrated on my Hajj devotion out here in the Holy Land, but for the benefit of all unassuming and fair-minded readers I have decided to set the records straight. All official vehicles used by me during my tenure were relinquished upon my exit as a Minister and in line with standard procedure.
Secondly, the allegations of hijack of FCT pilgrims slots is baseless because the official procedure adopted by organs responsible for Pilgrimage affairs is not conducive to it. Our preparations and ratings in the FCT Pilgrims Board while I was in office received positive acclaim and commendations in the preceding years. After my departure from office my influence on the operations and its success is limited. Even then I had to go out of my way to insist a better accommodation be provided when I became aware of the challenge faced by some of the Pilgrims.
Lastly, I wish to state categorically that I do not have any aides still in the FCTA. The letter of appointment issued by the FCTA to Special Assistant on Special Investment Programme (SIP) has termination date in August 2023., while the Special Assistant on Climate Change is in fact a staff of FCTA who I engaged from within the system as a cost cutting measure while in office. Both are employees of the FCTA, not mine.
I am therefore at a loss as to what could have motivated the author and her co-travelers to embark on this unfounded and mischievous misadventure. Nonetheless, I must first extend an invitation to the author and her sponsors to retract this piece of defamation and tender their open and unreserved apology to me and my family through the medium you spread this malicious propaganda, or they will have to accept the invitation to stand before the law.
SIGNED:
Tpl. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, Ph.D, CON
