Nigeria’s Innoson Vehicles has been trending on Twitter since morning, as Nigerians react to media reports that lawmakers in Anambra State collectively rejected brand new Toyota Prado SUVs that were intended for them. The lawmakers asked for locally assembled Innoson SUVs instead.
The Anambra State Government reportedly planned to expend as much as N1 billion for the purchase of SUVs which it intends to distribute among the lawmakers in a bid to facilitate the effective discharge of their duties.
The Anambra House of Assembly have rejected brand new Toyota Prado SUVs from Gov.Obiano describing it as a great waste of state resources.
They have asked him to instead get cheaper vehicles from Innoson.
Can the Nigerian Senate learn from them pls?
— the Morris Monye factor (@Morris_Monye) September 25, 2019
Why the lawmakers rejected Prado: However, upon deliberation on the matter, the lawmakers rejected the vehicles partly because of the high cost of purchasing them. According to them, Toyota Prado SUVs are costlier than Innoson SUVs. In other words, it would have cost the state government less to patronise the Nigerian auto assembler which is, surprisingly, based in Nnewi, Anambra.
A case for made-in-Nigeria: The lawmakers also called out Governor Willie Obiano for overlooking Innosson Vehicles in the first place. For them, there is no better way to encourage Made-in-Nigeria than patronising Nigerian investors. They want Governor Obiano and other state governors to come to this realisation.
Nigerians on Twitter agree: Many Nigerians have expressed the same sentiments as did the Nigeria lawmakers. Yussuff Azeez said this is a commendable development, as it is indicative of the people’s willingness to grow the economy.
Anambra lawmakers reject Toyota Prado jeep for #Innoson
Commendable move.
I have always maintained that if we desire a great country, We the people, be willing to take great steps. pic.twitter.com/GezM2nuPBU— Yusuff Azeez (@YusuffAzeez10) September 25, 2019
Charles Eyo also agreed that this is a good development. According to him, government officials should really be compelled to patronise Innoson Vehicles. It is only fair, he said. After all, the Government has banned Nigerians from eating imported rice.
All lawmakers buying cars must be compelled to buy Innoson vehicles. Don't ask us to eat local rice and you buy imported cars! pic.twitter.com/SqDYGu9X4f
— Charles Eyo (@Charles81607596) September 22, 2019
Meanwhile, some people also used the occasion to drag Governor Obiano across social media. One Twitter user questioned the governor’s leadership skill, suggesting that he should have been the one leading by example by patronising Innoson instead of Prado.
If Obiano was actually a leader, he should be the one telling his HOA members that they must accept Innoson Jeeps instead of Prado.
It's extremely easy to score cheap political points in Nigeria.
But them we can expect Aguleri Sean Paul up have sense.#ObianoHasFailed
— Bane (@Shawn_fendi) September 25, 2019
Uchenna Aomine even implied that the Governor has a personal problem with Innoson. After all, his predecessor, Peter Obi, was a fervent customer of the local car assembler.
Obiano should tell us the problem he has with Innoson because I remember Peter Obi's govt. being his biggest customer then. https://t.co/qjG0xcLcJ2
— Uche Aomine (@UcheUchiha) September 25, 2019
Note that this is not the first time Innoson Vehicles is trending because a state governor overlooked the Nigerian company to patronise a foreign car brand. Recall that Nairametrics reported in August that Nigerians were angry with Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha, for snubbing Innoson when it purchased hundreds of trucks from Ford Motor Company.
[READ: Irate Nigerians drag Imo State Governor for snubbing Innoson Vehicles]