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.
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.
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