The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Nigeria has raised concerns and sought clarification from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu regarding the allegedly over-bloated delegation of 1,411 individuals accompanying him to the Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
In an official statement signed by the party National Publicity Secretary Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the PDP alleges that the delegation, said to be filled with the president’s close associates, political allies, and their associates, is incurring significant expenses for the nation. The party contends that this incident further underscores the wasteful and frivolous spending patterns of the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, particularly at a time when Nigerians are advocating for prudent resource management to stimulate infrastructure development, job creation, and economic revitalization.
The PDP dismisses the explanation put forth by the Presidency, asserting that attempts to justify the delegation by referencing genuine sub-national officials, businesses, journalists, and civil societies traveling at their own expense are merely an effort to conceal the inclusion of individuals with no substantive role at the conference and who are reportedly attending at the government’s expense.
Expressing dismay at what it perceives as profligacy within the APC administration, the PDP suggests that the government’s actions and policies are promoting and institutionalizing corruption. The party criticizes the administration for attempting to mislead the public even though the delegation list is publicly available, characterizing such actions as indicative of irredeemable depravity.
The PDP questions the rationale behind the allocation of resources and scarce foreign exchange to such a delegation, especially when many citizens are struggling to meet basic needs. The party asserts that the administration seems more focused on benefiting a select few at the expense of the broader population.
In a challenge to the Presidency, the PDP demands transparency and urges the public disclosure of the names of the officially sponsored delegation by the Federal Government, the relevance of these individuals to the conference, and the total cost of their sponsorship. The party contends that Nigerians are already aware of the legitimate officials from sub-national governments and self-sponsored entities attending the conference.
The PDP calls on the National Assembly to exercise its constitutional duty under Section 88 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). The section empowers the National Assembly to investigate and expose corruption within any organ of the government. The PDP urges the National Assembly to initiate an immediate investigation into the matter and impose appropriate sanctions on individuals or institutions found culpable.
The PDP concludes its statement by demanding that President Tinubu be prepared to reimburse any federal funds improperly spent on individuals with no relevance to the conference. The party suggests redirecting such funds to projects that directly impact the well-being of Nigerians.
