Atiku also said if Tinubu is serious about patriotism, his next vacation should be at Obudu Cattle Ranch or Yankari Game Reserve.
By Kehinde Okeowo
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar on Wednesday asked President Bola Tinubu to prove he is serious about his newly launched “Nigeria First” policy by trading his Escalade for vehicles made by Innoson motors.
Atiku threw the challenge at the president in a statement issued by his Special Assistant, Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.
According to the former Vice President, Nigeria deserves real commitment from its leaders and not a never-ending charade.
Atiku said: “The Tinubu administration’s latest ‘Nigeria First’ mantra, paraded through the Federal Executive Council, is nothing but another tired Public Relations stunt—designed to deceive, not deliver.
“Nigerians have grown weary of hollow speeches. If this government is truly serious about local content and economic patriotism, it must start at the very top.
“We challenge President Tinubu to stop the noise and trade in his beloved Escalade for an Innoson, Nord or any made-in-Nigeria car.
“That single act will do more to promote local industry than a thousand policy memos. Let’s see the ministers—those shameless Rolls Royce connoisseurs— sweat it out in Nigerian-made vehicles too. Or is ‘Nigeria First’ only for the masses?”
ALSO READ: Tinubu approves ‘Nigeria First’ economic policy, bans procurement of foreign goods produced locally
He also stressed that it was time for the President to shelves his love affair with Paris and London, adding that if he’s serious about patriotism, his next vacation should be at Obudu Cattle Ranch, Yankari Game Reserve, or Erin Ijesha Waterfalls.
He went on to add that Nigeria is beautiful—unless, of course, the President thinks otherwise.
He continued, “More importantly, the era of jetting off for medical tourism while preaching self-reliance must end.
“We demand that President Tinubu—champion of “Nigeria First”—conduct all future medical check-ups at LUTH, National Hospital Abuja, UCH Ibadan, or even the #41 billion Naira Akwa Ibom world-class hospital built by uncommon transformer, in Uyo.
“If these hospitals are good enough for ordinary Nigerians, they should be good enough for their Commander-in-Chief. Anything less is sheer hypocrisy.”
