Expressing his disapproval, Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 polls, has criticized the presence of a 1411-member Nigerian delegation at the ongoing UN climate summit in Dubai.
Through his X account, Obi released a statement on Sunday where he remarked, “In a rather tragic turn of events, I extend my congratulations to Nigeria, the giant of Africa, for matching the number of delegates with the esteemed China at COP28 in Dubai.
“Considering that China’s 2024 budget amounts to around $4 trillion, in contrast to Nigeria’s $33 billion budget, the vast majority of the Nigerian delegation…comprises mostly of irrelevant civil servants or individuals connected to high-ranking government officials,” he lamented.
Obi also raised questions about the justification for such a large contingent attending the summit at the expense of the public, when “most of them have little understanding or relevance to climate change,” especially at a time when “the majority of Nigerians can barely afford basic necessities.”
The former governor of Anambra State expressed hope for a future where Nigeria can focus on competing with China in terms of productivity and achieving the remarkable feat of lifting the highest number of citizens out of poverty.
“As we have consistently emphasized, we must abolish the culture of wastefulness in our government and country. Our spending should be in line with necessity and national priorities,” advised Obi.
He reiterated his belief that “a new Nigeria is attainable, with the condition that we act sensibly and appropriately.”