Atiku Slams Tinubu’s COP28 Delegation as Excessive “Owambe” Festivity

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has voiced strong disapproval over the purportedly bloated delegation led by Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai.

In a statement from his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku criticized the scale and nature of the delegation, asserting that Tinubu demonstrated a lack of understanding of Nigeria’s economic challenges.

Questioning the rationale behind transforming a climate change conference into what he termed a “jamboree, all-comers, and ‘owambe’ party” with over 1,400 delegates, Atiku characterized the situation as absurd, reflecting a governance approach devoid of awareness and responsibility.

The statement underscored Nigeria’s pressing economic hardships, emphasizing the imperative for leaders to align their actions with the available resources.

Atiku decried the use of borrowed funds for what he labeled a “street party” held abroad, drawing attention to the disconnect between the COP28’s intended focus on improving lives, clean air, healthy food, and a secure future, and the alleged extravagant delegation.

“The economic dire straits that Nigeria is facing demand that its leaders cut their coats according to the cloth available,” read the statement, stressing the necessity for a more prudent and responsible approach to governance and resource utilization.

Atiku’s remarks join a growing chorus of criticism surrounding the purported misuse of resources and the size of the Nigerian delegation at COP28.