Despite
the Federal Government’s consistent calls on Nigerians to patronise
Made-in-Nigeria products in order to strengthen the economy and aid national
development, SUNDAY PUNCH’s
investigation has shown that President Muhammadu Buhari and members of his team
are using foreign products.
The
investigation showed that except their clothes, the President and his team have
been using foreign products ranging from their shoes to their cars.
For
instance, there was outcry especially on social media platforms recently when
Buhari was spotted in a pair of Gucci 1953 horsebit loafer shoes.
The
price of the shoes was put at $640 at that time.
Not
a few Nigerians were surprised that with his acclaimed austere lifestyle, the
President could be spotted in such expensive imported shoes.
Further
investigation showed that none of the vehicles in the President’s convoy was
manufactured or assembled locally.
His
official car is a Mercedes Maybach S600 described as “an extra highlight in the
luxury segment.”
The
vehicle in base-line configuration is said to cost around $258,000.
The
President’s wife, Aisha, has also been attracting comments to herself lately
over the various expensive and foreign fashion accessories that she uses.
She
had earlier been spotted holding a Hermes Birkin 35cm Porosus Crocodile Gold
Hardware Bag in Washington DC recently.
The
bag was said to be worth over $70,000.
A
Hermes Himalayan Crocodile Birkin bag was said to have been auctioned for
$432,000 recently.
A
news portal had claimed that the pink version of Mrs. Buhari’s Hermes handbag
was auctioned in 2015 for $222,912 at a Christie’s auction in Hong Kong.
Shortly
after that, the President’s wife was again on October 18 spotted wearing a
$2,600 multicoloured cape to Brussels.
She
was also said to have been seen with an expensive diamond wristwatch by
Chopard.
A
look at Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo’s convoy also showed that most of the cars
are expensive imported cars except for the Nissan Patrol Sports Utility Vehicle
being used by some security operatives.
The
SUVs were manufactured in Nigeria.
Our
correspondent also observed that Buhari’s 36 ministers have Toyota Land Cruiser
VXR V8 cars as their officials cars.
The
President’s security chiefs also ride exotic bulletproof BMW cars.
But
when contacted on the matter, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on
Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, told SUNDAY
PUNCH that the President and Vice-President are already leading by
example.
Shehu
however said it was not the idea of government that officials should stop
riding cars made abroad simply because those cars were bought overseas.
Such,
he said, would be ridiculous and result to a waste of resources.
He
said, “It is not the idea of government that its officials should stop riding
cars made abroad simply because those cars were bought overseas. That will be
ridiculous, and a waste of resources.
“The
purchase and use of home made goods and services is a new campaign that will
take time to fully entrench itself. This country has not banned the importation
of goods.”
Source:Sunday
Punch
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