Contrary to widespread speculations, the Federal Government has no intention of purchasing 53 gold-plated iPhones to be distributed to individuals during the country’s 53rd Independence anniversary celebrations.
Bristol-born Chief Executive Officer of Gold and Co., United Kingdom, Amjad Ali had told a United Kingdom newspaper, The Independent that the Nigerian Government ordered 53 gold-plated iPhone 5S mobile handsets from his firm, as part of memorabilia for the nation’s 53rd Independence anniversary on 1st October 2013.
But responding in a statement signed by Press Secretary to the Minister of Information, Joseph Metuh, the Federal Government described the story in question as totally false.
“The attention of the Federal Ministry of Information has been drawn to a story in both the traditional and social media, alleging that the Nigerian Government purportedly ordered 53 gold-plated iPhones for the country’s 53rd independence anniversary celebration. The story is false in its entirety and nothing but the figment of the warped imagination of the author,” a part of the statement read.
“No one under the aegis of the Jonathan administration has made such move to procure any device for the Independence celebration. Neither the Federal Government of Nigeria nor any of its agencies contemplated the idea or placed any order for gold-plated iPhones for the nation’s 53rd Independence anniversary, or any anniversary for that matter.”
The statement urged Nigerians to disregard such a story, as it is meant to put the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan and the Federal Government in bad light.
“We, therefore, call on Nigerians and the international community to disregard the story linking the Federal Government with the importation of the gold-plated iPhones. The blatant falsehood in the story is one of those mischievous attempts at tarnishing the image of the Federal Government.
“Nigerians are hereby advised to watch out for those intent on blackmailing the government for political reasons. For private individuals who are extravagant enough to contemplate the importation of luxury items such as gold-plated iPhones, we would like to use this opportunity to appeal to them to invest their wealth in the Nigerian economy, to create jobs and generate more wealth for the nation, rather than waste such money in pursuit of expensive tastes.”
Specifically, the statement implored them to emulate the examples of Aliko Dangote, Innocent Chukwuma (Innoson Motors), and others who are using their talents and wealth to invest in the economy to create jobs for citizens of the country.
