Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Tinubu to demonstrate patriotism by choosing local tourist destinations over foreign vacations.
Atiku urged the President to abandon what he described as a “love affair with Paris and London” and instead vacation at sites such as Obudu Cattle Ranch, Yankari Game Reserve, or Erin Ijesha Waterfalls.
The remarks come in response to the Federal Executive Council’s recent approval of a new “Nigeria First” policy aimed at prioritizing locally made goods and services in government procurement.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the policy is intended to promote confidence in Nigerian products and industries and would soon be backed by an executive order.
Reacting in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku criticized the policy as hypocritical, accusing the Tinubu administration of practicing double standards.
“And speaking of double standards,” the statement read, “it’s time Mr. President shelved 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.”
Atiku also challenged Tinubu to end the trend of traveling abroad for medical care, urging him to use Nigerian medical facilities if he truly believes in the “Nigeria First” agenda.
“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 world-class hospital in Akwa Ibom. 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.
Atiku concluded by accusing the administration of indulging in foreign luxuries while urging struggling citizens to make sacrifices.
“True leadership isn’t about photo ops or soundbites,” the statement added, “it’s about setting the tone by example.”
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