Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of hypocrisy, describing its recently unveiled “Nigeria First” mantra as a deceptive public relations campaign lacking genuine intent to transform the nation.
In a strongly worded statement issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku challenged President Tinubu to demonstrate true patriotism by replacing his official foreign-made luxury vehicle with a locally manufactured car and to receive all future medical care within Nigerian hospitals.
“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 said.
He further called on the President’s ministers, whom he described as “shameless Rolls Royce connoisseurs,” to also adopt Nigerian-made vehicles as a show of solidarity with the suffering masses.
The former vice president didn’t stop at cars. He urged Tinubu to end his “love affair with Paris and London” and instead spend vacations at local tourist attractions like Obudu Cattle Ranch, Yankari Game Reserve, or Erin Ijesha Waterfalls.
“Nigeria is beautiful — unless, of course, the President thinks otherwise,” he remarked.
Atiku also took aim at the President’s frequent overseas medical trips, labeling them a glaring contradiction of the government’s public calls for self-reliance.
“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 Akwa Ibom world-class hospital 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,” he said.
Accusing the Tinubu administration of indulging in foreign luxuries while asking Nigerians to make sacrifices, Atiku said the government had failed to inspire trust or confidence.
“True leadership isn’t photo-ops or soundbites—it’s setting the tone by example. Nigeria deserves real commitment, not this never-ending charade,” he added.
