KINGSLEY BENNETH; JOY ANIGBOGU; SAMUEL OGIDAN
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have criticised the Federal Government over what they described as wasteful delegation of 1,411 individuals to the Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Obi lamented that the presidency was competing with China over bloated list of delegates.
He also admonished Nigeria to strive to compete with China in the area of production and not on the size of entourage to a specialised conference of experts.
In a series of tweets on his X handle on Sunday, the former Anambra State governor accused the Federal Government of “waste and wrong imitation of a country dutifully pulling their people out of poverty.”
Reports from Dubai show that Nigeria equals China with 1,411 contingents to the conference, the highest in the global event aside from the host UAE.
Accordingly, the 2023 main contender in the presidential election said, “In a twist of sad irony, let me congratulate the giant of Africa, Nigeria, for matching the great China, with the same number of contingents at the ongoing COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Nigeria’s contingent to COP28 totaled 1,411, the same number as the Chinese contingents.”
The LP standard bearer noted that while China’s budget for 2024 is about $4 trillion, about $2,860 per head, Nigeria’s budget is about $33 billion, about $165 per head.
China has a high Human Development Index (HDI), with a ranking of 79 out of 191 countries measured, and Nigeria has a low HDI, with a ranking of 163 out of 191 countries measured, he said.
“Nigeria has more people living in ‘multi-dimensional’ poverty than China, despite China having seven times our population.
“Most importantly, the vast majority of those in the Nigerian delegation to COP28 are either non-relevant civil servants or relations, friends, and hangers-on of high government officials. Most of them hardly understand or have anything to do with climate change.”
PDPBlastsTinubuOver1,411Individuals At COP28
Similarly, the PDP criticised President Bola Tinubu over the 1,411 delegates to the COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The party queries the president over his over-bloated delegation, asking him to come clean on government roll call and what it cost the government.
The party, which frowned at the delegation reportedly brimming with his cronies, political minions and their mistresses at huge expense to the nation, holds that this incidence is a further validation that the Tinubu-led APC administration is wasteful, frivolous and reckless in the application of the scarce resources of the nation, especially at a time Nigerians are yearning for prudent management of resources to achieve the desired infrastructural regeneration, job creation and revamping of the economy.
The PDP, in a statement by its spokesman, Hon Debo Ologunagba, dismissed the feeble attempt by the presidency to rationalise the over-bloated delegation by trying to hide under genuine sub-national officials, businesses, journalists and civil societies, who are travelling at their own expense to cover the baggage of cronies, mistresses and other hangers-on associated with the presidency, who are reportedly attending at government’s expense and have no relevance whatsoever at the conference.
“Our party and all well-meaning Nigerians are appalled by the level of profligacy inherent in the APC administration whose actions and policies so far are skewed towards the promotion and institutionalization of corruption.”
Why Nigeria Has 1,411 Delegates At COP28— Presidency
Reacting, the presidency has clarified the controversy surrounding the participation of 1,411 delegates from Nigeria at the COP28 summit in Dubai, stressing that among the delegates are business people who registered to promote their businesses and are not funded by the Federal Government.
This was disclosed on Sunday by Tope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, pointing out that participation is not for jamboree as mischievously represented.
He said, “It’s important to state here that delegates from all countries whether from government, private sector, media and civil society groups attend COP summits and conferences as parties and the number of attendees are registered against their countries of origin.
“This doesn’t mean that they are sponsored or funded by the government. It must be said also that the fact that people registered to attend a conference doesn’t mean everyone that registered is physically present.
“In Nigeria like so many other countries, interested parties comprising government officials from both the federal and sub-national governments, business leaders, environmentalists, climate activists and journalists are present in Dubai.
“Also participating are agencies of government such as the NNPC and its subsidiaries, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, NIMASA, NDDC.
“Many youth organisations from Nigeria especially from the Northern and Niger-Delta regions whose lives and livelihoods are most impacted by desert encroachment and hydrocarbon activities are also represented.
“The President of Ijaw Youth Council, Jonathan Lokpobiri, leads a pan-Ijaw delegation of more than 15 people who registered as parties from Nigeria. Among delegates from Nigeria are also over 20 journalists from various media houses.
“Their participation is very important. It’s not for jamboree as it is being mischievously represented on social media.
“As the biggest country in Africa, biggest economy and one with a bigger stake on climate action as a country with a huge extractive economy, it is a no-brainer that delegates from Nigeria will be more than any other country in Africa.
“Among the delegates from Nigeria are UBA Chairman, Tony Elumelu; Abdul Samad Rabiu, Chairman of BUA Group, and other billionaires whose businesses are promoting sustainability and climate actions through their philanthropies.
“These businessmen and women and their staff who came with them to promote their own business interests are part of the 1,411 delegates from Nigeria. Their trip to Dubai is not funded by the Federal Government.
“United Nations Climate summit, by its very nature, commands attendance of big names from across the world – statesmen and women, politicians, lawmakers, corporate titans, journalists and activists, etcetera who promote big global agenda.”
