The Federal Government has reacted to the
news that they ordered 53 gold gold-plated
iPhone 5S for N682million. The report went
viral after the CEO of Gold and Co., UK, Amjad
Ali, told UK newspaper, The Independent , that
our government ordered these phones from his
firm as part of the memorabilia for the nation’s
53rd Independence anniversary on October 1,
2013. Jonathan's government has denied this
and issued a statement. Find it below...
We consider the reports in a section of
the media claiming that the Nigerian
government had ordered customized gold
iPhones from a Dubai-based company to
mark the country’s 53rd independence
anniversary in October not only false and
misleading, but utterly mischievous.
It is instructive that despite the refutation
of the story by the company, which ought
to have laid the mischief to rest, a
number of politically-minded news media
continue to insist on promoting the
blatant falsehood. We deplore their antics
as yet another attempt to use any trick or
means possible to discredit President
Jonathan’s well-meaning, hardworking
and focused administration.
The company, Gold and Co., has since
explained that what was written on
Independent was different from what the CEO
actually said. They explained that the phones
were not ordered by the government but by a
Nigerian who asked them to put the crest of
the Nigerian govt on the back. Continue..
The statement continues...
It is certainly a matter of public record
and knowledge that since his assumption
of office, President Jonathan has ensured
that October 1 independence-day
anniversaries are low-key, without any
pomp or pageantry. Ironically, even this
prudence generated criticisms from a
cynical and opportunistic segment of the
public which alleged, in 2011, and again
in 2012, that the President was either too
scared to celebrate or that the
government was broke.
This administration has no intention to
depart from its established habit of
prudent management of
resources and
modest celebration of the country’s
independence anniversary. This year, the
public should be assured that the October
1 anniversary will also be low-keyed.
Neither the Federal Government nor its
agencies has ordered any gold iPhones to
mark the anniversary.
We do not see any justification for such
extravagance either now or at any other
time. The Jonathan administration’s gold
standard is to continue to provide
responsible, committed, and result-
oriented leadership, not to engage in the
purchase and distribution of party gifts.
We urge the Dubai-based company, which
has since said that the order for the said
53 gold i-phones was placed by a private
individual and not the Nigerian
Government, to go ahead and disclose the
identity of that individual. We appeal to
the public to beware of the increasing
desperation of those with politically
vested interests, seeking to pull down this
administration. Their moral bankruptcy is
condemnable.
The Jonathan administration will remain
focused as it continues to serve the
Nigerian people diligently.
Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
September 12, 2013
news that they ordered 53 gold gold-plated
iPhone 5S for N682million. The report went
viral after the CEO of Gold and Co., UK, Amjad
Ali, told UK newspaper, The Independent , that
our government ordered these phones from his
firm as part of the memorabilia for the nation’s
53rd Independence anniversary on October 1,
2013. Jonathan's government has denied this
and issued a statement. Find it below...
We consider the reports in a section of
the media claiming that the Nigerian
government had ordered customized gold
iPhones from a Dubai-based company to
mark the country’s 53rd independence
anniversary in October not only false and
misleading, but utterly mischievous.
It is instructive that despite the refutation
of the story by the company, which ought
to have laid the mischief to rest, a
number of politically-minded news media
continue to insist on promoting the
blatant falsehood. We deplore their antics
as yet another attempt to use any trick or
means possible to discredit President
Jonathan’s well-meaning, hardworking
and focused administration.
The company, Gold and Co., has since
explained that what was written on
Independent was different from what the CEO
actually said. They explained that the phones
were not ordered by the government but by a
Nigerian who asked them to put the crest of
the Nigerian govt on the back. Continue..
The statement continues...
It is certainly a matter of public record
and knowledge that since his assumption
of office, President Jonathan has ensured
that October 1 independence-day
anniversaries are low-key, without any
pomp or pageantry. Ironically, even this
prudence generated criticisms from a
cynical and opportunistic segment of the
public which alleged, in 2011, and again
in 2012, that the President was either too
scared to celebrate or that the
government was broke.
This administration has no intention to
depart from its established habit of
prudent management of
resources and
modest celebration of the country’s
independence anniversary. This year, the
public should be assured that the October
1 anniversary will also be low-keyed.
Neither the Federal Government nor its
agencies has ordered any gold iPhones to
mark the anniversary.
We do not see any justification for such
extravagance either now or at any other
time. The Jonathan administration’s gold
standard is to continue to provide
responsible, committed, and result-
oriented leadership, not to engage in the
purchase and distribution of party gifts.
We urge the Dubai-based company, which
has since said that the order for the said
53 gold i-phones was placed by a private
individual and not the Nigerian
Government, to go ahead and disclose the
identity of that individual. We appeal to
the public to beware of the increasing
desperation of those with politically
vested interests, seeking to pull down this
administration. Their moral bankruptcy is
condemnable.
The Jonathan administration will remain
focused as it continues to serve the
Nigerian people diligently.
Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
September 12, 2013
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