Nigeria First? Practice What You Preach – Atiku to Tinubu

We challenge President Tinubu to stop the noise and trade in his beloved Escalade for an Innoson, Nord or any made-in-Nigeria car.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s “Nigeria First” policy, describing it as a public relations stunt designed to deceive rather than deliver. Atiku challenged the president to demonstrate his commitment to the policy by taking concrete actions.

Atiku urged President Tinubu to show his seriousness about the “Nigeria First” policy by:

– Trading in his official Escalade for a made-in-Nigeria car, such as an Innoson or Nord
– Conducting all future medical check-ups at Nigerian hospitals, such as LUTH, National Hospital Abuja, or UCH Ibadan, instead of seeking medical care abroad in cities like Paris or London.

Atiku emphasized that Nigerians have grown tired of hollow speeches and are demanding tangible actions. He stressed that if the Tinubu administration is genuinely committed to promoting local content and economic patriotism, it must start by setting an example from the top.

Through his special assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku expressed his skepticism about the government’s intentions, highlighting the need for concrete actions to support local industries and promote economic patriotism.

Atiku said, “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.

“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?

“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.

“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 N41 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.

“True leadership isn’t photo-ops or soundbites—it’s setting the tone by example. Nigeria deserves real commitment, not this never-ending charad.”