Trade Your Escalade for Innoson to Prove ‘Nigeria First’ – Atiku Tells Tinubu

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Tinubu to demonstrate genuine commitment to his administration’s newly launched “Nigeria First” policy by adopting locally made products, starting with his official vehicle. In a statement issued Wednesday by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku criticized the policy as another empty public relations campaign unless backed by real action.

He urged President Tinubu to lead by example, suggesting he replace his Cadillac Escalade with a Nigerian-made car such as those produced by Innoson or Nord. According to Atiku, such a move would do more to promote local industry than any policy document or media campaign. He also challenged other government officials to follow suit and abandon luxury foreign vehicles for Nigerian alternatives.

Atiku further accused the administration of double standards, pointing to the President’s frequent travels abroad. He argued that if Tinubu is serious about patriotism, he should spend his holidays at local destinations like Obudu Cattle Ranch, Yankari Game Reserve, or Erin Ijesha Waterfalls. Atiku noted that Nigeria is a beautiful country deserving of support from its leaders.

On the issue of healthcare, the former Vice President criticized the President’s foreign medical trips while promoting self-reliance at home. He insisted that Tinubu should undergo all future medical check-ups in local institutions such as the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, the National Hospital in Abuja, the University College Hospital in Ibadan, or the multi-billion naira Akwa Ibom Specialist Hospital in Uyo. Atiku concluded that if these hospitals are suitable for ordinary Nigerians, they should be good enough for the nation’s leader, warning that anything less would be an act of hypocrisy.