BY ADO IBRAHIM, ABUJA
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to explain the reported distribution of 2026-model luxury sports utility vehicles (SUVs), allegedly worth more than ₦150 million each, to APC youth leaders amid the economic hardship facing Nigerians.
Atiku, who described the reported vehicle gifts as a matter of public concern, demanded clarification on the source of funding, the total cost of the vehicles and whether public resources were used to procure them.
According to a press statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku questioned the circumstances surrounding the reported donation of the vehicles, following claims by the APC National Youth Leader that the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, donated them.
He said Nigerians deserved to know whether the vehicles were purchased with the First Lady’s personal funds, private donations or public resources.
“The Presidency must provide a clear account. Nigerians cannot be expected to accept a fleet of extraordinarily expensive vehicles for party loyalists without knowing who financed them,” Atiku said.
The former vice president argued that the reported distribution had raised questions about the government’s priorities, particularly at a time when many households were struggling with rising food prices, transportation costs and other basic necessities.
He questioned why such expensive vehicles were reportedly being provided for political mobilisation while millions of Nigerians continued to face the effects of the cost-of-living crisis.
Atiku also linked the latest development to reports that APC women leaders had previously received luxury vehicles, arguing that the two incidents warranted further clarification from the Presidency.
According to him, the timing of the reported gifts had also raised concerns, given the country’s continuing challenges with insecurity, unemployment and economic hardship.
The ADC presidential candidate further called on the Federal Government to explain how the reported expenditure related to the savings associated with the removal of the petrol subsidy, insisting that Nigerians deserved greater transparency regarding the use of public resources.
“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 authorised the spending and under what legal authority,” he said.
He warned that the reported scale of the vehicle distribution raised questions about whether the country’s resources were being used to secure political loyalty rather than address the needs of ordinary citizens.
Atiku also drew attention to reports of the APC National Youth Leader travelling by private jet, describing the image of such privilege as being at odds with the economic difficulties confronting many Nigerians.
The former vice president extended his criticism to the President’s family, citing widely circulated photographs purportedly showing Seyi Tinubu wearing a Richard Mille RM 67-02 Sébastien Ogier wristwatch, which Atiku claimed was valued at close to $500,000.
He argued that displays of such expensive possessions by people associated with the Presidency could intensify public questions about wealth and privilege, particularly when many citizens were struggling to meet their daily needs.
Atiku maintained that the government should respond to questions about the reported vehicle gifts and their financing rather than dismiss concerns over the issue.
He also pledged that, if elected president, his administration would investigate any public funds found to have been spent illegally and ensure that anyone found culpable faced the law.
“When I am sworn in as President, every naira found to have been spent illegally will be thoroughly investigated, and everyone found culpable will be brought to justice,” he said.
Atiku concluded with a promise to address the economic difficulties facing Nigerians, declaring: “Tinubu made life difficult. I will make life affordable again.”
The statement did not include a response from the Presidency or the APC to the allegations and questions raised by the ADC presidential candidate.
