I dispute – Arise TV anchor who is in Dubai discredits the presidency's claim that the Ijaw Youth Council sent 15 delegates to COP 28, says the Nigerian pavilion in Dubai is empty
Arise TV anchor, Ovieteme George, who is currently in Dubai, has discredited the presidency's claim that Ijaw Youth Council sent 15 delegates to COP 28, says Nigerian pavilion in Dubai is empty
The number of the Nigerian delegation to the climate summit has been the subject of debate for a few days.
In a statement released on the evening of Sunday, December 3, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, said some people attended the conference on their own but registered as Nigerian delegates. Ajayi said Tony Elumelu, Chairman of BUA, 15 members of the Ijaw Youth Council, media and others attended the conference and were registered as delegates from Nigeria. He said the federal government did not fund his trips to Dubai for the conference.
''In Nigeria, as in so many other countries, stakeholders, including government officials from federal and subnational governments, business leaders, environmentalists, climate activists and journalists, are present in Dubai. Government agencies such as NNPC and its subsidiaries, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, NIMASA, NDDC also participate. Many youth organizations from Nigeria, especially from the Northern and Niger Delta regions, whose lives and livelihoods are most affected by desert encroachment and hydrocarbon activities, are also represented. The Chairman of the Ijaw Youth Council, Jonathan Lokpobiri, is leading a pan-Ijaw delegation of over 15 people who have registered as Nigerian parties. Among the delegates from Nigeria are also more than 20 journalists from various media outlets.
Their participation is very important. It is not for a jamboree as it is being mischievously represented on social media.
It is important to state here that delegates from all countries, whether from government, the private sector, the media and civil society groups, participate in COP summits and conferences as parties and the number of participants is recorded in relation to the their countries of origin. This does not mean they are sponsored or funded by the government. It should also be said that the fact that people sign up to participate in a conference does not mean that everyone registered is physically present.
Being the largest country in Africa, the largest economy and with a greater interest in climate action, being a country with a huge extractive economy, it is obvious that Nigeria will have more delegates than any other country in Africa.
Nigeria's delegates include UBA President Tony Elumelu, BUA Group Chairman Abdul Samad Rabiu and other billionaires whose businesses are promoting sustainability and climate action through their philanthropies. These businessmen and women and their employees who accompanied them to promote their own business interests are part of Nigeria's 1,411 delegates. Their trip to Dubai is not funded by the Federal Government.”
Ovieteme George, a reporter with Arise TV who is currently in Dubai to cover the climate conference, disputed claims that the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) is present with 15 members. He said he came to the conference with the AIJ delegation and is aware that only the President, the Secretary and a few others are part of the AIJ delegation. According to him, the FG's claim that the IYC came with 15 members for the conference is strange to him. He said he sees some members of the FG delegation in Dubai for the conference but does not know what they are doing there as he does not see them at the Nigeria pavilion.
Watch a video of him speaking below
Everything about APC is lies, lies and lies
That entire delegation to Dubai and very few made it to any plenary session there
The Nigerian pavilion is almost empty. Maybe they're all shopping and having fun there
What the hell are they doing in Dubai? pic.twitter.com/tDfYQkizcQ
– Mo-Mo (@Morris_Monye) December 4, 2023
Source: www.lindaikejisblog.com