Local content: Lead by example, use Innoson, other made in Nigeria cars, discontinue Escalade, foreign medical tourism-Atiku to Tinubu

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and PDP presidential candidate in the 2023 elections taken a swipe on president Bola Tinubu saying he is making mockery of his campaign for made in Nigeria products otherwise known as local content.

Atiku said that for the president to prove his commitment to the policy, he has to swap his luxury armored Cadillac Escalade SUV for a made-in-Nigeria vehicle like Innoson, Nord or other made in Nigeria cars.

Tinubu and Atiku

The former vice president in a statement by his aide, Phrank Shaibu, said, “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 the local industry than a thousand policy memos.”

The Federal Executive Council recently approved the Nigeria First policy to prioritize local goods in government purchases. Minister of Information Mohammed Idris said, “This policy means Nigeria comes first in all procurement processes; no foreign goods or devices that are already being produced locally will be procured without a clear and justified reason.”

Atiku dismissed it as a PR stunt, “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.”

He added: “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 urged Tinubu to end medical tourism, “The era of jetting off for medical tourism while preaching self-reliance must end. We demand that President Tinubu… conduct all future medical check-ups at LUTH, National Hospital Abuja, UCH Ibadan, or even the ₦41 billion Akwa Ibom world-class hospital… If these hospitals are good enough for ordinary Nigerians, they should be good enough for their Commander-in-Chief. Anything less is sheer hypocrisy.”

Atiku concluded that “Speaking of double standards… 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.

True leadership isn’t photo-ops or soundbites—it’s setting the tone by example.”