Jack-Rich described the Twitter post which claimed he (Jack-Rich) offered N500million to President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, as “provocative, malicious from politically sponsored agents.”
Tein Jack-Rich, a former presidential aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has expressed “shock” over a recent post, credited to a former aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Jackson Ude.
Jack-Rich described the Twitter post which claimed he (Jack-Rich) offered N500million to President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, as “provocative, malicious from politically sponsored agents.”
Ude had on his Twitter handle accused Jack-Rich, the President of Belema Oil Producing Limited, of bribing Gbajabiamila, with N500 million so he could be made a minister.
JACK RICH BRIBES GBAJABIAMILA WITH N500MILLION FOR MINISTERIAL POSITION
Jack Rich Tien, owner of Belema oil who is desperate to make Bola Tinubu’s Ministerial list, Sunday morning, traveled with N500million in Dollar equivalent to Abuja to bribe the Chief of Staff to the… pic.twitter.com/8AHRt60LvA— Jackson Ude (@jacksonpbn) June 25, 2023
But in a release on Wednesday, Jack-Rich through his media office said the report was mischievous and far from the truth.
“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 President, thereby trying so hard to smear his own reputation and by extension, that of the Presidency.
“Let it be noted that this is not the first time the publisher of these falsehoods had tried to malign Mr. Jack-Rich with similar stories, which has become his trademark.
“A similar publication was also made in 2021 by the same Jackson Ude, alleging that Jack-Rich was involved in money laundering activities for former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“This is because Jackson Ude’s pay masters have seen that Jack-Rich is a political actor coming in to add value to national good. Till today, all claims remain unsubstantiated, and Jackson Ude and his political cohorts remain faceless and untraceable.
“Again, the jobless and faceless Jackson Ude has resurfaced with a similar story and narrative, as orchestrated by his sponsors.”
“As a senior stakeholder in the ruling Party, the APC where he contested for the presidential primaries and lost to our incumbent President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and having worked assiduously to help his great party to win the elections, Mr. Tein Jack-Rich, has all it takes to merit an appointment into any office as would be deemed fit by our dear President, and so does not need to bribe anyone in the party he jointly built with others.”
“Let it be re-emphasised here again that Tein Jack-Rich did not, will not, and will never need to bribe anyone for any political appointment in a party he just recently served as the Vice-Chairman, Finance Committee, of the Presidential Campaign, that his party won.
“So, there was just no need for anyone to sponsor such a campaign of calumny and blackmail against him, except for extreme desperation. It is quite shameful that in their quest to derogate Jack-Rich's personality, the sponsored publication equally made reference to his family; something so petty and quite unfounded, again,” it said.
“Dr. Mrs. Elizabeth Jack-Rich does not lose any sleep over this fabricated falsehood. So, it is a shame on their sponsors, whose main interest is to promote cheap political commerce to wreck families, scare upcoming political actors who mean well for the country.”