Thursday, May 8, 2025 - Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice-President and Presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has called on President Bola Tinubu to demonstrate commitment to his administration’s “Nigeria First” policy by replacing his foreign-made vehicles with locally manufactured ones.
In a statement released Wednesday, May 7, by his Special
Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said practical actions
by the presidency would have a greater impact than official
pronouncements.
On Monday, May 5, the Federal Executive Council approved the
Nigeria First policy aimed at prioritising local goods and services in
government procurement.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation,
Mohammed Idris, announced the decision after the FEC meeting in Abuja, noting
that the policy would be formalised through an executive order.
“This policy means Nigeria comes first in all procurement
processes; no foreign goods or devices that are already being produced locally
will be procured without a clear and justified reason,” Idris said.
“Now this seeks to foster a new business culture that will
be bold, confident, but also very, very Nigerian.”
In his reaction, Atiku said the administration must move
beyond declarations to concrete actions.
“The Tinubu administration’s latest Nigeria First mantra,
paraded through the Federal Executive Council, is nothing but another tired PR
stunt—designed to deceive, not deliver,” the statement read.
“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.”
Atiku challenged President Tinubu to stop using foreign
luxury vehicles and switch to locally made brands.
“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 the local industry than a thousand policy
memos,” he said.
“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?”
Atiku also addressed what he described as double standards
in the administration’s public messaging.
“It’s time Mr. President shelves his love affair with Paris
and London. If he’s serious about patriotism, his next vacation should be at
Obudu Cattle Ranch, Yankari Game Reserve, or Erin Ijesha Waterfalls. Nigeria is
beautiful—unless, of course, the President thinks otherwise.”
He further called on the President to commit to using
Nigerian hospitals for all medical care.
“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 Akwa Ibom world-class hospital 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.”
Atiku concluded by saying that leadership should be
demonstrated through example, not slogans.
“This government’s addiction to foreign luxuries while
demanding sacrifice from suffering Nigerians is the height of insincerity. True
leadership isn’t photo-ops or soundbites—it’s setting the tone by example.”
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