Business tycoon and All Progressives Congress (APC) head Tein Jack-Rich has called online reports that he paid a N500 million bribe for a cabinet position in President Bola Tinubu’s administration “malicious, preposterous, unwarranted, distasteful and unsubstantiated.”
An online publisher stated in a series of tweets that Jack-Rich was so desperate to become a minister that he provided the equivalent of N500 million in dollars to make the appointment happen.
In a statement released by his media team in response to the accusations, Jack-Rich stated that there was not a shred of truth in them and that he had no need to use bribery to gain appointment as a minister in the party he had faithfully served since entering Nigerian politics in 2014, a platform on which he had even run for president.
He said, “The entirety of the allegations are not only unfounded and childish, but also depicts the nature and character of the persons and evil elements behind them; who are also well known by their political brigandage and desperation for political relevance.
“We are utterly shocked, that in their attempt to tarnish the image and reputation of Mr. Jack-Rich and his family, some of these political desperados will condescend so low to the extent of making statements that not only attack his personality, but also extending same to the hallowed and revered office of the Chief of Staff to the Presidency, thereby trying so hard to smear his own reputation and by extension, that of the Presidency.”
He swore not to respond to the false accusations ever again because doing so would only help the people who made them more well-known.
In addition, Jack-Rich warned the public that the nefarious political forces behind the accusations would stop at nothing to carry out their scheme to deceive the public against him and had prepared plans for the days ahead to use fabricated videos, voices, images, and technology-enhanced algorithms to achieve petty political objectives.
Jack-Rich urged all Nigerians to be steadfast and hopeful in the promise that the President will keep all of the stated aims of the incoming administration. He defined himself as an ardent and staunch believer in Mr. President and his shared vision of renewed optimism for Nigeria.