Did Abia Lawmakers Reject Innoson Motors?

Notes for File

If the report that members of the Abia State House of Assembly have rejected Innoson Motors Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) bought for them by Governor Alex Otti is correct, then their action is dishonourable, unpatriotic, cruel and condemnable.

The lawmakers reportedly said they could only accept Toyota Prado SUVs or the same model the governor had bought for Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the assembly.

If the lawmakers actually rejected the Made-in-Nigeria vehicles and opted for foreign products at a time when the federal government is encouraging Nigerians to make sacrifices for the economic development of the country, then the lawmakers are not worthy of representing the good people of Abia State.

Governor Otti in his bid to encourage local manufacturers, create employment opportunities and grow the country’s GDP, chose Innoson Motors’ SUVs as the official vehicles for the state and went ahead to purchase some for members of the state assembly.

Many believe that the action of the lawmakers is not only akin to brothers rejecting brothers but also an attack on Nigeria’s economy. Many argued that if the rejection had happened in Lagos or in Kaduna, social media would have been awash with different interpretations of the action of the lawmakers.

Reports available to THISDAY have it that the governor’s Chief of Staff, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Commissioners, other aides, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the state assembly are all currently using different models of Innoson Motors.

It is really sickening for the public office holders to reject Innoson Motors’ vehicles that are being paid for with the taxpayers’ money at a time Nigerians should patronise locally manufactured goods to create more jobs.

If the government which is the biggest spender does not patronise the local manufacturers, it would be difficult for them to survive. Patronising Innoson Motors, would encourage it to produce more vehicles, create more jobs for Nigerians and grow Nigeria’s GDP. The government at levels must show example by patronising Made-in-Nigeria products to encourage other Nigerians to do the same.