Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Tinubu to champion of “Nigeria First” by onductinb all future medical check-ups at Lagos State Teaching Hospital (LUTH), National Hospital Abuja, University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan.
The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections also challenged the president to trade his Escalade for Innoson motors to prove his sincerity about the newly launched “Nigeria First” policy.
Atiku in a statement issued Wednesday by his Special Assistant, Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu said Nigeria deserves real commitment, not this never-ending charade.
He was of the opinion that the Tinubu administration’s latest “Nigeria First” mantra, paraded through the Federal Executive Council, was nothing but another tired Public Relations stunt—designed to deceive, not deliver.
Atiku added that Nigerians have grown weary of hollow speeches, stressing that If this government is truly serious about local content and economic patriotism, it must start at the very top.
He noted: “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?”
Atiku stressed that speaking of double standards, it was time the President shelves his love affair with Paris and London, adding that if he’s serious about patriotism, his next vacation should be at Obudu Cattle Ranch, Yankari Game Reserve, or Erin Ijesha Waterfalls.
He added that Nigeria is beautiful—unless, of course, the President thinks otherwise.
Atiku said: “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 #41 billion Naira Akwa Ibom world-class hospital built by 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.”
Atiku emphasised that this government’s addiction to foreign luxuries while demanding sacrifice from suffering Nigerians was the height of insincerity.
He said true leadership isn’t photo-ops or soundbites, it’s setting the tone by example.