Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has openly challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to put action behind his words by driving a locally manufactured Innoson vehicle if he truly believes in his administration’s newly declared Nigeria First Policy.
Naturenex reported that President Tinubu recently introduced the Nigeria First Policy during the latest Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, a move aimed at promoting local content and encouraging Nigerians to patronize locally made products and services.
Reacting in a statement on Wednesday, Atiku argued that the president’s message would only gain credibility when he personally demonstrates his support for Nigerian-made products, starting with his choice of official vehicles.
The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate further urged President Tinubu to abandon the trend of medical tourism and instead rely on the country’s teaching hospitals for his personal healthcare.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku did not hold back, stating: “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. 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 went on to challenge the president directly: “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?”
Addressing what he described as the administration’s double standards, Atiku continued: “And speaking of double standards, 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.”
The statement didn’t stop there, as it also touched on the recurring issue of overseas medical trips by Nigerian leaders. “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.”
Concluding the strongly worded statement, Atiku’s aide criticized what he termed the government’s appetite for foreign luxury while asking Nigerians to tighten their belts. “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. Nigeria deserves real commitment, not this never-ending charade.”
