MONROVIA – Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Nathaniel McGill, has clarified that his recent statement contained in a cropped video circulating on social media was not in anyway intended to say he supports stealing from the government.
“I do not support corruption. I do not support stealing from the government and I have never been involved and there is no record to show that I ever stole money,” Min. McGill said.
According to Min. McGill spoke hypothetically and was being sarcastic when he said “Even if I steal money and give it to the Liberian people, that’s a good thing,” he said.
“Unfortunately, instead of listening, understanding, and interpreting the context in which I spoke, they started running with the story that I was justifying corruption when I spoke to the women in Gbarnga who were very appreciative of what this government is doing for the people,” Minister McGill said.
He explained that he grew up experiencing extreme hardship and has therefore decided to at all times extend a helping hand to the needy.
“There is no record to show that whatever donation I make is from the government, it’s not. I lobby with people with well-meaning friends to support our course, to help attend to the needs of those poor people because the government cannot do it all,” he said.
According to him, he believes those who try to align his gesture to the people as an act of corruption are envious that they never reached out to the people when they had the opportunity.
“All we’re doing is trying to help our people and all the message I’ve taken to the people is that they have a President who cares about them and most of the times, it is the President that sends me,” he said.