Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Tinubu to trade his Escalade for Innoson motors.
This comes amid the ban on importation of foreign goods by the Tinubu administration.
NATIONAL POST recalls that Tinubu had on Monday placed a ban on imported goods, as the Nigeria First Policy of his administration comes into effect.
This was announced by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris shortly after the Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by the President at the Council chambers of the presidential villa.
However, Atiku in a statement issued Wednesday by his Special Assistant, Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu said Nigeria deserves real commitment, not this never-ending charade.
“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?” He stated.
Atiku stressed that speaking of double standards, it was time the President 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 added that Nigeria is beautiful— unless, of course, the President thinks otherwise.
Atiku said: “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 an 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.”