The All Progressives Congress (APC) national youth leader, Dayo Israel has debunked claims making the rounds that he was part of the COP 28 delegate list sponsored by the Federal government of Nigeria, saying that he was invited by the host country.
Dayo Israel who took to his official social media handle to give a reply to his critic on social media on Monday 4th December 2023, also used the opportunity to clear the air on the controversial COP 28 delegate list to Dubai, stated that while his name appeared on the controversial list, he was not a member of the COP 28 delegate list, but a guest of a partner NGO, saying:
“For the umpteenth time, I am not a member of the Nigerian Government delegation to COP 28. The list you show below had me on, as a Guest of the NGO – Center for 21st Century Issues, whom I have worked with for over 7 years as a partner. I will be speaking at one of their sessions this week,”he said.
He continued by adding:
“However, I didn’t even have to use their registration because the Dubai Govt, the Host Country invited me as a Resource Person to Chair the session on Indigenous Knowledge this morning. But because of your preconceived mind, nothing I say will convince you, so it’s not what it is,” he said.
The APC youth leader also had words for his critics, where he added:
“My life did not begin and will not end with me being Youth Leader. Before and After, I have and will continue to be a Development Practitioner and Climate Change Campaigner, a highly paid public speaker and consultant with a second address outside politics,” he added.
Before the released statement by Dayo Israel, criticisms greeted the high number of delegates Nigeria sent to the ongoing Conference of the Parties, COP28 climate summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, UAE, at a time of austerity that the Federal Government was urging the citizenry to make more sacrifices.
However, the Federal Government, yesterday, said it was not footing the bills of the 1,411 delegates as COP-28 records put Nigeria’s official figure at 590 and the other 821 as “overflow” participants.
Picking holes in the number of delegates Nigeria sent to the summit, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, demanded roll call and cost incurred by Federal Government delegates and also urged the National Assembly to probe the incident.
The Labour Party, LP, and its 2023 Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi described the action as wasteful noting that it was sad that the Federal Government which ought to be cutting the cost of governance was being wasteful.