FG denies ordering customized gold iPhones; issues statement | Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog

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Thursday 12 September 2013

FG denies ordering customized gold iPhones; issues statement

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

107 comments:

Mzz Becky Wright said...

Good for them

Anonymous said...

Make i hear word 4u mr special adviser. As if its pass dis govt to do such. Mtcheww

Livvsreamblog said...

Nigeria my country where everything happen

Duke Emeka said...

Didn't finish reading, but if its true the phones are to do what? Develop the nation? Misplaced priorities.

Anonymous said...

Oshisko, why didnt they frama another country why Nigeria, because they know that Nigeria is full of corrupt leaders and anyting goes. Jonathan is just a failure.

Atobatele said...

There's always an element of truth in any saying......My belief.

Anonymous said...

Oya oh! Girls, get to work. People will finally get 'behanded' because of phone. #AL#

Bloomandgrownaija said...

You know what. Its easy to know what the government is really doing. Just read the text again and replace all the " didn't" with "did"!

Unknown said...

Would they ever admit to ordering the phones in the first place? like say no be naija we dey

Anonymous said...

Linda all i can say is ENDS TIME THINGS.

BONARIO NNAGS said...

Then who's this Nigerian that made such order?
God pass dem.

~BONARIO~says so via NOKIA3310

Anonymous said...

Na dem sabi......foolish thieves. Mtcheeeeew!

Luciblings said...

Hmmm story story

Anonymous said...

First oh

Anonymous said...

This our FG, I'm sorry for una. All liar shall go to where? Let it be rocking your minds. Bad Leaders! First to comment anyway.

Mich said...

Of course,didn't think the FG would be that stupid to purchase gold iPhones as memorabilia for independence day celebration.
I just think its stupid that the FG responds to issues it shouldn't be responding to whereas they keep mute on more important issues.
Asking the Dubai-based company to disclose the name of the individual buying the Luxurious mobile devices isn't any smart either.

kokumo ishaq said...

See nigerian govt oo. Pls i need help on profesional blog djeasykay@gmail.com z ma mail. I'm a webmaster

Anonymous said...

Abati we are nt expectin u to tell us d truth b4 u av always bein supporting ur corrupt boss

Anonymous said...

Nigerian Government will deny anything, like denying that Jonathan's wife was sick in Germany...They will even deny that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west if they can.

Anonymous said...

LOBATAN! ~Ritty~

Anonymous said...

The CEO of the company sef no dey try atall. Seems he wants to stop selling market to the naija govt. Must he make it public?? All these govt contractors and oil lifters can easily order such and dash it to them as gift without even coughing. Dangote can confortably order 1000 pieces the govt and hv them reward him via contract or by giving him a licence to import one contraband that will fetch him the spent money in seconds. This one no be new abeg.

Anonymous said...

Na today? The same Reuben Abati denied that PEJ wasn't sick when she "died for Seven days,and God gave her a second chance". I call this damage control.

Unknown said...

I knw b4,na dem knw ooo,FG wif dier wahala

OliviaSilk said...

Who even ever thot of such mischievous joke? I may not believe lotta things i read on blogs but ds one was soooo unbelievable? What would dey use the iphones for in the first place? Dash out? Dts very ridiculous..

Anonymous said...

My fellow nigerians sorry for d slip of dat news na me d head of militants na buy dem,as a special gift for my fellow militants all of u come to oshodi Oct first to collect urs first come na go take am

Anonymous said...

Hehe...so the iphones ma daddy sent for finally came..

Janelicious said...

Asuu is on strike unemplyment and so many oda n they re ordering gold iphones shame on them.

Online Scholarship said...

They will always deny. But how can the producer of the phone lie?!

Anonymous said...

as usual, they will always deny it. if na better country now efcc or police for investigate this matter and prosecute the liars. insincere government.

Anonymous said...

God punish dis wicked pple we have as leaders

Anonymous said...

we all know this statement is a pile of horse shit right. theres no smoke without fire. #thatisall

Slimy said...

Mr Reuben Abati u again? Lemme ope ur position isn't twisting d real issh abt dis iphones. Btw i need am.

Anonymous said...

Tufia! 2 faced liar! If it was an individual, he must have benefited immensely from FG so it is aa case of either 6 or half a dozen - same difference!!

Unknown said...

Who cares. U order ooooo u didn't order so fucking what. Abeg next.

Anonymous said...

Tufia! 2 faced liar! If it was an individual, he must have benefited immensely from FG so it is aa case of either 6 or half a dozen - same difference!!

ary said...

Taa gbafuo Ruben! I bet your masters didn't count on the Dubai firms running their mouth abi? Insensitive bastards, ASUU strike una dey find gold iphone, no even nokia torch.

★★PRINCE CHARMING™★★ said...

I don't expect the set of skilled liars we have as leaders to admit such claims in the first place, I don't!

jay said...

bera not play wid my fones oo

Anonymous said...

I seriously doubt that The Independent newspaper misquoted this guy. He is just trying to do damage control. Those phones were ordered by Jona and his cronies.

Yoma said...

Yimu!!! I dunno y I don't believe dem

Anonymous said...

God will punish d FG,weda it is false or not!!dey beta luk for ow dey will settle wit Asuu!!owon rada rada!

Unknown said...

Owk, we have heard, but there is certainly no smoke without fire click here to See the Naija guy that thinks he can sing like Bruno Mars!

Oluwadamilola said...

682 million fa? Why do I believe this story..I have to find my way to that place and chop this money with them..oti su mi oo #Whew!

Anonymous said...

We don hear, isorait!

Unknown said...

Na wa oooo, So many negative publicity revolving round goodluck.
Pls visit my blog
www.suspenseandemotions.blogspot.com

Adanna said...

aiite den we've hrd yall, buh dnt start using silver customised 1s later o; afta u've finished denying d gold 1 or is any member of d new pdp responsible 4 it.

I cn smell sumfin fishy here

Miss J said...

I hope this story is false cos Asuu issue is still pending....mtchewwww

Anonymous said...

Yimz

ᶥᵗˢ didi said...

E be lyk say they want to tell us anoda story again o! *singing in tu face voice*...& am here praying for d strike to b called off so I can grad.

Anonymous said...

Na lie, na jonathan buy d fones.. lie lie president

Anonymous said...

olofofo

confessor said...

And am suppose 2 bliv d govt
Dat promised us 24hr light since
1984?
Who ever blivs d statement wl
bliv jonathan promise speech
Come 2015...smh

Anonymous said...

Liars!!!!!!(Nigerian Govt)

Cheta said...

Na lie they don catch una, and una want to deny,

MY TURN said...

Onyinbo no dey lie. They won't carry any story without the whole truth. Imagine Gold plated Iphones ha Nigeria i hail thee.

Anonymous said...

when wih dey call off d strike. Huh?

Oluwabobby said...

So who is the liar here?

judith hanrankis said...

Sure they will denied it

Anonymous said...

Still don't get it, who r dy fooling, kinda av probs bliving anything frm d presidency- most expecially.Are we not here wen dy said Dame was not flown out of the country for treatment. Pls who is a singular nigerian dat can order 53pcs of gold plated mobile sets? Pls if u av his identity,kindly conf who e's giving it to. I won't b surp if ur ans is similar to mine(presidency/pdp, politicians). Wow! my country is blessed?

Anonymous said...

So an individual will oder 53 iphones and put fed govt crest on it spend 682milla on phones? Dafuq? The dumbest lie ever. Jonathan you are a disgrace a shame as a man. You are a faliure. Sim ple. Join that money and pay off asuu so that we can go back to school. Beast. Bastard. Useless fool.

Unknown said...

Misplacing priorities@ FG

Anonymous said...

Selfish morons md4ks

Anonymous said...

Broda ruby abattior abi na abati, u try wit ur plenty epistle,uni dey strike, hunger everywhere una dey order 4 gold plated phones? May posterity jugde una. U come dey write mumu epistle dey deny!

Anonymous said...

Born liars!!!(Nig.Govt)

Anonymous said...

No mind hm jhare...m sure Itz true...he wan deny ham...naijaz r smart too naw...so Jonathan fi operate IPhone...nawa o...he shld beta go nd noe wah z rong wit hm nd stop sackin ministers..resolve assu strike..no go buy gold plated iPhone nd pls ehn grow up..

Unknown said...

dubai man no go just start to lie na..

lexie said...

Anonymous 9:56,,, easy oooo....okwa commander in-chief of the armed forces...

Funminuro said...

Jonathan is a big thief. Always feigning an innocent look.

Anonymous said...

@lexie, devil punish dat commander in thief!

Anonymous said...

Abatif abatif abatiiffff, we are NOT dullards nor fools, we can read inbtw d lines. Ur oga's govt placed d order while asuu is still on strike over money...now u r tellin us an individual ordered them???? Rueben I order u to go fuck a worm

Anonymous said...

As he uses it,may he get electrocuted. AMEN!!!

Anonymous said...

The man and the Gold company should be prosecuted for misusing the Nigerian crest if what the Gold man said is true he just implicated himself in illegal activity..

Anonymous said...

God bless u FG 4 all dey'v done as i continue to stay @ home.

Anonymous said...

Funny tinz,dy think Nigerians are as dumb as they are? Wen d country is in a very perilious time so d next thg to do is to order for xpensv customized phones? Well,only God will deliver us frm these evils called leaders and i knw someday sometime Nigeria'll stage d revolution it needs. Can someone now tell me why our teenagers will all not want to stow away to better countries. Anyway with enuf said,im sooo SMH for my motherland!
Joke

whiteshadows said...

Go₫ is watching

Anonymous said...

See this thieves! Cool story u guys can tel DAT again. Chaii see as una fuck up Cux una must provide DAT nigerian. Who be DAT Nigeria wey wan crest him life for back of phone? Thank God for Nigerian youths Cux if na eygpt did kinda tin dey happen heads for dey roll nw. 682million? There fada! EFCC una dey see so? B4 una find guys wit lappy mk una see d main bastard criminals una dey find. When naija go betta? When people papa go stop to tiff Cux na money for all be DAT.

Unknown said...

Out of every grape vine there is some element of truth, let us wait and see, time will tell.

Anonymous said...

Be rest assured this may very well be a marketing ploy by the company. I lived in Dubai for 7 years, Nigeria bussinessmen/women are highly regarded because we have a reputation for spending cash and unfortunately for 419 as well. I hope this is not some 419 deal, someone claiming to act for the govt. I believe the govt, something ain't right. Trust me, Nigeria sells, we just don't have confidence in our country, Google FDI and we see how we rank in terms of foreign direct investment. I know its tough back home, but let's not throw away something that God gave us in abundance- HOPE. God bless y'all.

Anonymous said...

Ahhhhhh!!!!!682 million??? Na bomb wey go destroy una,una don buy oh wit Our money??? See dat oloriburuku Abiti 'MaLU'dey lie lie ,wan cover dier oyenusi track? Na abattior u go end up 4 sure bcos ur name don destine u 4 dier! Great nigerian students una dey sleep ni?????? Oma she oh!!!

TangoTangoAlpha said...

Linda sit down there and refuse to collect your own share of the national cake if they call you.

They've done this before, they dished out Galaxy tabs when it just came out before the last elections.

http://saharareporters.com/gallery/gejs-news-editorial-tools-reporters

If they offer me plain or gold iPhones i will take with pleasure. My Yoruba landlord says if you are hearing "carry it, carry it" if you don't come out to help carry the thing, it will be dumped in your backyard.

Anonymous said...

Mich,I like the sarcasm in ur first sentence,lol. Ur comments are always insightful.

Rough Diamond said...

Na iphone be our problem ?
It sounds lame so I don't believe!

Anonymous said...

What is endtime about this??? If you have nothing to say then just STFU..what a retard!

Unknown said...

Common Nigerians...Which Nigerian buys 53 Gold-platted iphones and asks for the Nigerian govt crest to be placed on them...I bet there is some truth in the whole issue and the Dubai-based company have been pleaded with to retract the statement in the best interest of the Govt and future buisness with the company(if there will be any)

Unknown said...

Common Nigerians...Which Nigerian buys 53 Gold-platted iphones and asks for the Nigerian govt crest to be placed on them...I bet there is some truth in the whole issue and the Dubai-based company have been pleaded with to retract the statement in the best interest of the Govt and future buisness with the company(if there will be any)

Anonymous said...

Only a child will believe their cock n bull story. Denying it cos the company owner told it as it is and we have become a laughing stock to world powers. Since they have ordered,they should go ahead with their unhealthy wastage and let us face our lives I beg. Lemme eat and step out Jor!

Anonymous said...

I can bet my life dt Abati is telling lies again,u will sure see those fones in nija with them politicians soon,he has to deny cos it will create big issues now dt asuu strike still on,jona so truly bringing us backward

Anonymous said...

Thank u bro,big big ole jona trying to be innocent,he deceived about hving no shoes and we voted for him,a lecturer if he truly was dt will keep students at home,ewu monkey banana,him and david mark

Anonymous said...

Panel beating the truth into what we "fellow nigerians" want to hear.
Govt built on lies and hypocriscy

Anonymous said...

Why would a private individual put nigerian crest.....sounds fishy. Govt have been caught so they get spin dr Reuben abati to do his work. We will be looking out for which of them brings out a gold phone.

Anonymous said...

Pls shut up your mouth, which individual will order something worth 682 million for this our yeye govt officials abi dem send u come, smh

Unknown said...

oh govt said they were going to fix nepa... they did shey ... and the roads.. and pay minimum wage ... yaay and they are not the ones buyin the iphones... please lets be good citizens and believe dem joo

Anonymous said...

Very true

Anonymous said...

Believin Jona's administration is a symtom of brain tumor, mich how long hav u been a Nigerian or better still do u even reside in this country at all??? Wakey wakey

BLOGLORD (MVBM) said...

The Nigerian Governement Is capable of anything. if only they can attend to matters that would move the country forward rather than purchase gold -phones, chase girls their daughter's age, loot money, do all sorts....misplaced priorities it has always been!

gold plated bb Porsche nor de reign for them again abi????

mtchewwwwwww!

Anonymous said...

Not even dangote with his load of billions will order dis phones so wot d heck r de talking abt. If it's not the government then is some one connected to them ether way na our money

Anonymous said...

\.''..''''.//.,./???.?>">"||"|":?"|;>.>."".."">>"'.>";":"<><:,?>.,:';=)9&54#5&%^89';'.">.,
who is deceiving who?

Anonymous said...

what do you expect

Anonymous said...

they (FG) ordered for those phones claiming an individual ordered. if so what is the name of the individual. rubbish.

Anonymous said...

they (FG) ordered for those phones claiming an individual ordered. if so what is the name of the individual. rubbish.

Anonymous said...

Dem don deny d accusation, y nigerians still dey bad belle goodluck.... Northerns rules dis country 4 years without improvement, dis guy has just bin dere 4 1 tenure nd d whole woes of nigeria na ein dem de blame make una free am oooooo. Kudos mr president e no easy..... All u unemployed individuals, make una wait gudluck go come ur house dey pay u citizenship salaty!!!

Unknown said...

@roughdiamond are you always this bitter and antagonistic?

Anonymous said...

U just took d words outta my mouth.. I hate this country.. And nothing is done about the Asuu strike.. I just wish there's a solution to everything... God Please Help Us!!

Anonymous said...

Good he denied it, else nigerians wuld take to d streets, dis president of man is taking us for granted, enough is enough!

Anonymous said...

He will always deny it cos they know or assume we all are fools. Naija youths na only mouth una get no bone, even so called boko haram sef don turn politics. I mean they wre supposed to be fightin the poor and not reducing the affected masses thereby enabling their governors to eat the share of d dead ones. This country needs deliverance and our president nids help from above. Well we all thought he would be different but gosh its worser than Abachas regime. Help us Lord or you come ad carry us to heaven abeg.

Anonymous said...

This our Govt self. They are not sensitive to the ply of the citizenry. Why should it takes the govt days to reply to a claim?

Nuffsaid said...

The writer of the statement must hav been laughing while writing..."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." and "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."

ITS BEEN EVERYTHING BUT.

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