Isaac Samuel
The National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dayo Israel, has pulled down social media posts announcing the presentation of brand-new 2026 Toyota Prado sport utility vehicles to selected party youth leaders, following criticism over the gesture amid economic hardship.
Israel had announced the presentation on his X and Facebook accounts, saying the vehicles were intended to support the beneficiaries’ election mobilisation activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Today, I presented brand new 2026 Prado to my committed selected youth leaders to aid their election mobilisation activities,” he had written.
He also expressed appreciation to First Lady Oluremi Tinubu for what he described as her continued support for the party structure under his leadership.
The announcement triggered criticism on social media, with users questioning the appropriateness of distributing expensive vehicles to party officials while many Nigerians grapple with rising living costs and financial difficulties.
On Nairaland, a user identified as Zionmdde criticised supporters of President Bola Tinubu’s administration over what the user described as a contrast between the hardship facing ordinary Nigerians and the benefits enjoyed by political figures.
“Nigerians let all suffer while timumbu cleanses the economy,” the user wrote.
The user added: “There must be something wrong with anybody supporting timumbu and the crazy government of suffer the masses while they are having the largesses of their lives.”
Another Nairaland user, Racoon, also condemned the presentation, questioning the decision to distribute luxury vehicles while asking Nigerians to endure economic hardship.
“They are sharing Prado jeeps while asking the poor people to endure hardship,” the user wrote.
The criticism extended to X, where users also questioned the timing and cost of the vehicle presentation, arguing that the gesture was at odds with the economic difficulties confronting many households.
The controversy gained further attention after the original posts and accompanying video became unavailable on Israel’s X and Facebook accounts.
Checks by this medium on his two social media handles on X and Facebook showed that the APC youth leader has pulled down the posts.
The circumstances surrounding their removal were not immediately clear.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) also criticised the presentation, estimating that each 2026 Toyota Prado cost about N145 million and putting the value of seven vehicles shown in the video at approximately N1.015 billion.
The opposition party accused the APC-led administration of asking Nigerians to endure economic hardship while political figures enjoyed expensive benefits.
However, the N145 million figure was the NDC’s estimate, and the actual purchase price and source of funding for the vehicles could not be independently established.
Israel had said the vehicles were intended to support election mobilisation, linking the presentation to the APC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
