Political economist Prof. Pat Utomi has criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC) over a video showing its national youth leader, Dayo Israel, presenting brand-new Toyota Prado vehicles to selected party youth leaders for election mobilisation.
Utomi in a post on his X handle on Monday, October 26, questioned the apparent disparity between the resources displayed by the ruling party’s youth leadership and the financial challenges facing Nigerians, particularly military personnel.
“Nigerian soldiers are being paid peanuts as salaries, yet an APC youth leader is flaunting SUVs worth billions of naira.
“This is the same government that told Nigerians there was no longer money in the treasury. At this point, they must think we are fools!” Utomi said.
The professor’s reaction followed widespread criticism on social media after Israel announced that he had distributed brand-new 2026 Toyota Prado vehicles to selected youth leaders to support the party’s election mobilisation efforts.
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In a post shared on Sunday, which has since been deleted, Israel expressed appreciation to Oluremi Tinubu, wife of President Bola Tinubu, for what he described as her continued support for the party structure under his leadership.
“Today, I presented brand new 2026 Prado to my committed selected youth leaders to aid their election mobilisation activities. I am grateful to my Mummy, H.E Mrs Oluremi Tinubu for her continuous support to the party structure under my leadership,” he wrote.
Israel added: “The party is supreme and that supremacy will show in our actions in this election period — we will deliver polling unit by polling unit.”
The announcement triggered debate over the cost of the vehicles, the source of funding and the timing of the gesture amid concerns about economic hardship and public spending.