Jonathan Won’t Spend N128 Billion On Image Laundering – Presidency

Mr. Abati said the president is focused in ensuring security of lives and property.
The Presidency has described as ‘false and baseless’ reports that the Federal Government is in the process of recruiting an international public relations firm to “counter mounting criticism both inside and outside the country.”
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, stated that the mere suggestion that the federal government intends to spend $800 million (N128 billion) on the phantom public relations was highly insensitive, deplorable, absurd and very malicious.
The statement also said the government’s priority is the national security and the ongoing effort to ensure the safe return of the abducted college girls and not public relations or image laundering.
“Reports in national and foreign media that the Federal Government is currently in the process of recruiting an international public relations firm to ‘counter mounting criticism both inside and outside the country’ are completely false and baseless,” Mr. Abati said.

“The suggestion that the Federal Government intends to spend a staggering sum of $800 Million on the phantom public relations effort to ease ‘increasing pressure over its response to the kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls’ is also wholly untrue.
“Coming as they do, at a particularly difficult and sensitive time for the entire nation, the Federal Government considers the reports of a drive to recruit consultants to launder its image highly insensitive, deplorable, absurd and very malicious.

“The Federal Government’s topmost priority for now is not public relations or image laundering but national security and the ongoing effort to ensure the safe return of the abducted college girls.
“We therefore condemn the attempt by purveyors of the bogus reports to incite the Nigerian public against the Federal Government through the circulation of falsehoods” the spokesperson said.