Presidential hopeful and the 2027 African Democratic Congress, ADC Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to explain how his government mobilized huge funds used to purchase SUVs for All Progressives Congress, APC, Youth Leaders in the country.
The ADC presidential candidate also demand from the Presidency, how the government could spend such a humungous some of money at a time of serious economic challenges and hardship in the country.
Since the vehicle were said to have been donated to the APC Youth Leaders by Nigeria’s First Lady Remi Tinubu, the former vice president called on the government to explain how the President’s wife with no constitutional recognized office, got the funds to purchase the expensive vehicles for its officials.
Abubakar made the remark on Monday in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Phillip Shaibu following reports that the ruling APC has donated many Prado SUVs to its youth leaders across the country.
APC National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel had announced, in a now deleted on his verified social media post that the Youth Prado Jeeps were meant to assist the Youth Leaders to mobilize support for President Tinubu in the 2027 election.
Israel also stated that the vehicles were donated by the country’s Frist Lady, Remi Tinubu expressing party’s supremacy, and its readiness to reward hard working officials.
The former vice president, however, stated that the gifts to the APC officials raised many questions, particularly coming at a time of economic hardship in the country, wondering why Nigerians are made to pay heavy sacrifices when government and party officials are living in opulence.
He wondered why the purchase of the SUVs, he said worth over N150 million each had become a national priority at this time in the country, describing the Tinubu administration as very insensitive to the plights of suffering Nigerians.
“The APC National Youth Leader says these vehicles were donated by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu. Nigerians deserve to know where the money came from to buy and distribute so many 2026 model SUVs, each worth more than N150 million, for political mobilisation
“The First Lady holds no elected or executive office. Were these vehicles bought with her personal funds, donations or public resources? Who paid for them? What was the total cost? The Presidency must provide a clear account. Nigerians cannot be expected to accept a fleet of expensive vehicles for party loyalists without knowing who financed them,” he said.
“At a time families cannot afford food, transport and other basic necessities, these gifts raise concerns. The government has found a way to provide luxury SUVs for APC youth leaders, yet millions of Nigerians are still waiting for meaningful relief from the cost of living crisis.
“First, APC women leaders reportedly received luxury vehicles. Now, according to the National Youth Leader, APC youth leaders are receiving SUVs from the First Lady. The earlier gifts came on the eve of the abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo State. Now another round of political giving is taking place while Nigerians face hardship.
“While Nigerians continue to ask where the savings from subsidy removal have gone, the Presidency must explain how such costly gifts are being funded. If the vehicles were paid for privately, the source of the funds should be disclosed. If public resources were used, the government must identify who authorized the spending and under what legal authority,” the ADC presidential candidate said.
The magazine reports that the issue has sparked a serious outrage across the country, with many prominent Nigerians condemning the ruling party for what they described as a very insensitive act.
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