Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has lashed out at President Bola Tinubu, urging him to prove his commitment to the “Nigeria First” economic policy by abandoning his luxury Escalade vehicle for a made-in-Nigeria car such as Innoson or Nord.
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The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said Tinubu’s personal choices contradict the spirit of the policy recently approved by the Federal Executive Council, which mandates government institutions to prioritise locally made goods and services.
Atiku’s statement, issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, came shortly after the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced that the policy would soon be backed by an executive order.
According to Atiku, the president’s continued use of foreign-made cars and frequent overseas medical trips send the wrong message to Nigerians, especially at a time when the government is asking citizens to embrace economic patriotism.
He argued that symbolic actions, such as using Nigerian-made vehicles and receiving medical care at local hospitals, would do more to promote national development than policy documents or public relations campaigns.
Atiku further challenged Tinubu to end his trips to foreign countries for healthcare and instead rely on top hospitals within Nigeria, including the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, the National Hospital in Abuja, and the University College Hospital in Ibadan.
He also suggested that Tinubu and his cabinet consider local destinations for their vacations to encourage tourism and investment in the country’s hospitality sector.
The former vice president maintained that true leadership requires setting the tone from the top, warning that the government’s credibility would continue to erode if its actions do not reflect its policy declarations.
