…Says Leading by Example Will Do More for Local Industries Than Empty Rhetoric
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to demonstrate genuine support for Nigeria’s local industries by ditching his foreign-made luxury vehicles in favor of homegrown alternatives like Innoson or Nord automobiles.
Atiku, in a strongly worded statement titled “Nigeria First Policy: Trade Your Escalade for Innoson Motors” and signed by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, described the Federal Government’s recent “Nigeria First” policy as a hollow public relations gimmick.
> “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,” Atiku said.
He challenged the President to lead by example, starting with his official car:
> “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.”
Atiku didn’t stop at cars. He also questioned the government’s sincerity in promoting Nigerian tourism and healthcare, urging Tinubu to abandon his foreign vacations and overseas medical checkups.
> “If he’s serious about patriotism, his next vacation should be at Obudu Cattle Ranch, Yankari Game Reserve, or Erin Ijesha Waterfalls. And if ‘Nigeria First’ really means anything, let the President undergo his next medical check-up at LUTH, UCH Ibadan, or the ₦41 billion Akwa Ibom Specialist Hospital,” the statement added.
Atiku accused the Tinubu administration of hypocrisy, saying the call for Nigerians to make sacrifices rings hollow when leaders continue to indulge in foreign luxuries.
> “True leadership isn’t about photo-ops or soundbites—it’s about setting the tone through action. Nigeria deserves real commitment, not this never-ending charade,” he stated.
He also called on federal ministers, whom he described as “Rolls Royce connoisseurs,” to embrace locally manufactured vehicles to match the administration’s rhetoric with visible, personal sacrifice.
The former vice president’s remarks underscore growing criticism of the government’s policies, which critics say often fail to align with the personal lifestyles of top officials.
