Criticisms have begun trailing the rejection by federal lawmakers of vehicles produced in Nigeria by Nigerians for their official and private uses.
News was rife on Tuesday, 18th of February, 2020, that Nigerian lawmakers had resolved to purchase 400 units of Toyota Camry 2020 model as against patriotic call to patronize Nigerian made vehicles from Innoson Motors.
The cars preferred by the lawmakers, it was gathered, cost between nine and 12 million Naira depending on choices, excluding import charges.
Of special interest are two notable senators from the South Eastern zone, Enyinnaya Abaribe representing Abia-South Senatorial District of Abia State and Enugu State born ex-deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, both of whom reportedly never raised a voice against their colleagues’ decision, given that the Innoson Motors boss, equally hails from their axis.
The Igbo lawmakers’ critics made up of their kinsmen, are recalling the government’s border closure policy that was hinged on encouraging patronage of made-in-Nigeria products, wondering why the two of all members of Parliament would join the vote to disregard identifying with their kinsman.
The popular opinion presently are tilted against both Ekweremadu and Abaribe’s decision as somewhat an anticlimax to the Igbo brotherhood campaign, especially because they are considered as more outspoken and heroes of the Igbo self-rule agenda.
Besides, Nigerians are wondering why the lawmakers are so obsessed with flaunting foreign made products when foreigners are not proud to identify with Nigerian items.
A similar scenario had played out in September 2019 when members of Anambra State House of Assembly rejected the use of Prado SUVs made by Innoson Motors as their official or private vehicles, with some of them making a bogus excuse that the cars are ‘overvalued and overated”.
