FG's 53 Gold Iphones: I Stand By Story! British Reporter Who Wrote Report Insists Company Changed Story After Online Protest

Left: British reporter Osbourne

Following the outcry by Nigerians over the purchase of 53 gold Iphones to commemorate its 53rd independence anniversary, the federal government as expected yesterday released a statement denying the claims and calling it mischievous. See the statement Reuben Abati, special adviser to the president on media and publicity issued 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. 

The rest after the cut:

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.

Reuben Abati

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

September 12, 2013

But in an interesting twist, Simon Osborne the British reporter who originally wrote the story and interviewed the CEO of Gold & Co has said that he stands by his story.

In an exclusive online interview with Punch, Osborne said he is “annoyed’’ that the Chief Executive Officer of Gold and Co, Amjad Ali, “changed his story’’ after an online protest had greeted the development from Nigeria.

Osborne who writes for The Independent newspaper in London argued that Ali “stated clearly’’ that the order for the phones came from the Nigerian government as part of the memorabilia for the nation’s 53rd independence anniversary from Britain.

While explaining the circumstances that led to the denial, the British journalist said he pressed Ali for further clarification, after some persons claiming to be spokesmen for the government challenged him (Osborne) over the report. He said the CEO, however, changed his story.

He said “Ali stated clearly that the order, as described, came from the Nigerian Government. He did not say who, or which department had made the order. I saw denials on Twitter from people purporting to be spokespeople for the (Nigerian) government.

 “I emailed Ali to ask for his response. He then said the order was not from the government but from an individual. I sent a correction to our website (the story was online only). They did not deny the report. The company (Ali) only changed his story. This annoyed me, naturally.’’

When asked if he still stands by his initial report about Ali’s claim, Osborne said, “Absolutely, Yes.’’

Former Minister of Education, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, appears to have a different view. She said in a post on Twitter that it was unusual for private citizens to place orders of that kind with the Nigerian coat of arms.

She tweeted, “Private citizens cannot place orders with the Nigerian coat of arms. So, there is need for clarification, really.’’

When the news of the denial by the company came to her, she challenged the FG to sue it for slander. “Sounds like an after-thought to me.  Otherwise,  the FG should definitely sue that company for slander.’’

For clarification, the story, which generated this whole brouhaha was not even aimed at slandering the federal government. In fact, the post titled "Yours for up to £50,000: The REAL gold iPhone 5S outshining Apple's new release" in Uk's Independent  centered around the growing the demand for luxury products, and the eagerness of Gold&Co-a luxury company's-eagerness to meet the demandss of its rich customers.
As a result, I am of the view that indeed, the Federal Government did make the order, as initially indicated by Gold & Co's CEO, but did not expect it to be made public, even more,  get the kind of reaction it did from Nigerians.