Mum On Toke Makinwa, Presidency Debunks Sponsorship Of 1,441 Delegates To COP28

Against the background of nationwide outrage over Nigeria’s 1,441-man delegation to the COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai that has controversial OAP, Toke Makinwa as number 7, the presidency has denied government sponsorship of all the delegates.

Presidential aide, Temitope Ajayi in a statement issued on Sunday while debunking the insinuation of government sponsoring a large delegation equal to that of China as alleged by Peter Obi said that several of the delegates were self-sponsored.

The presidency clarification was, however, mute on who sponsored Toke Makinwa, the fashionista and OAP whose presence at the summit has overshadowed Nigeria’s presence on the front burner.

The statement read thus:

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 is not for jamboree as it is being mischievously represented on social media.

It is 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 does not 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 does not also mean everyone that registered are physically present.

As the biggest country in Africa, biggest economy and one with a bigger stake on climate action as a country with 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, etc who promote big global agenda. So, people attend the summit for many reasons. And because climate issue is the biggest global issue of the moment, it is not surprising that over 97,000 people including Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, King Charles of United Kingdom, Prime Minister of Netherlands, Mark Rutte, U.S.

GWG.ng reports that the presidency’s failure to explain the presence of Toke Makinwa would surely continue to stir debate on Nigeria’s delegation to COP28.

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