Breaking news:COP28 delegation: ”Tinubu’s govt wasteful, frivolous and reckless” – PDP – see details

At the political level, the cost of governance, in the face of all of us, is skyrocketing under this administration. Borrowing has continued unabated. Femi Falana, SAN, reportedly put out a documented set of corruption (that economists, bereft of standing up for the truth, euphemistically call leakages) data that would immediately refloat Nigeria if PBAT’s body language on corruption could boldly change for the better. These billions in dollars are stored in Nigeria and around the world and can be brought back under various moves. $7 billion fixed in 14 banks that Falana pointed to can be recovered from these individuals if they want to continue having bank licences. The crafty use of AMCON to defraud all of us as dubious loans to friends are forgiven can be addressed. Different fraudulent thefts of oil can be traced and recovered. We were lucky that we escaped P&ID, but not because of PBAT. If we had lost that case, the naira may be knocking at 2,000 plus to the dollar by now.

It is the duty of the president to ensure a fair balance between paper analysis by his advisers and anticipated impacts on the lives of Nigerians. It is on the basis of positive impacts that he should seek our affection. As a Professor and in the category of those who can recommend him, I would gladly nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize if he reverses our downwards trend on corruption. Leadership deficit and corruption are the main drivers of conflict. External dynamics is also important on conflicts in Africa. However, smart leadership can outsmart adverse external dynamics as some Asians have successfully done. To move on corruption, he would be signaling a significant move to ameliorate our toxic conflict environment in Nigeria, nay in Africa. The buck stops on our president’s table

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has raised serious concerns over the purportedly excessive delegation of 1,411 individuals led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

In a statement by its national publicity secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the PDP alleged that the delegation comprises political allies, cronies, and associated individuals at the nation’s expense.

The opposition party accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration of lavishness and imprudent use of national resources, particularly when Nigerians face economic challenges and infrastructure deficits.

The party highlighted the need for responsible funds management to drive economic rejuvenation and employment opportunities.

The PDP dismissed attempts by the Presidency to justify the over-bloated delegation, asserting that it includes individuals unrelated to the conference and sponsored at government expense.

The party emphasized that such actions reflect a broader pattern of what they termed as “institutionalized corruption” within the current administration.

Demanding transparency, the PDP called upon the Presidency to disclose the names and roles of the officially sponsored delegation members and the overall cost incurred by the nation.

Furthermore, the PDP called upon the National Assembly to invoke its constitutional powers to investigate the matter, citing Section 88 of the Constitution, which empowers the assembly to probe corruption within government institutions.

The party emphasized the necessity of holding individuals or institutions accountable if any impropriety is found.

”Our Party also demands that President Tinubu should be ready to refund any Federal Government fund improperly spent to sponsor any individual who has no relevance at the Conference.

”Such funds should be channeled to projects that have direct bearing on the wellbeing of Nigerians,” the statement noted.