Former Vice President and PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Tinubu to stop vacationing in cities like Paris and London. He urged the president to spend his holidays in local Nigerian tourist locations instead.
Atiku recommended that the president should visit beautiful places within Nigeria such as Obudu Cattle Ranch, Yankari Game Reserve, and Erin Ijesha Waterfalls. He believes that doing this would promote tourism and show true support for the country.
This comment came after the Tinubu administration announced a ban on the use of foreign-made products in government purchases. Atiku responded by saying that actions speak louder than policies. Spending vacations and money locally, according to him, would do more to help the economy than writing documents.
Atiku’s spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, released the statement on Wednesday.
Earlier in the week, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had introduced a “Nigeria First” policy. This new rule is meant to make the government buy only Nigerian-made products and services. The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, explained that this policy will soon be made stronger through a presidential order.
He added that the goal is to help Nigerian industries grow by changing the way the government spends money.
However, Atiku criticized the policy. He said the government was not practicing what it preached.
He stated that if the president truly believes in the “Nigeria First” idea, he should also take vacations within the country. Atiku questioned whether the president truly values Nigeria’s beauty.
Atiku didn’t stop there. He also challenged President Tinubu to stop traveling abroad for medical check-ups. Instead, he said the president should start using top hospitals in Nigeria like LUTH in Lagos, UCH in Ibadan, National Hospital in Abuja, or the ₦41 billion hospital in Akwa Ibom.
According to Atiku, if these hospitals are good enough for everyday Nigerians, they should be good enough for the president too. Anything less, he said, is hypocrisy.
He also criticized the government’s habit of enjoying foreign luxury while asking Nigerians to sacrifice. Atiku said real leadership is not about taking nice photos or giving speeches. It’s about leading by example.
