CoP28 in Dubai: Minister explains why Tinubu failed to deliver national statement

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar has explained why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not deliver a speech as planned at the United Nations climate change conference in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

According to Tuggar, Nigeria is no longer interested in official and fancy statements but rather more action-oriented.

The minister made this known on Friday, December 1, as he cleared the air on the debate surrounding Tinubu skipping his speech at the 28th edition of the Conference of Parties (COP28) on climate change, Premium Times reported.

As is the norm, with the COP28 or COP, two days after the opening day is reserved for high-level engagements. At these engagements, heads of state and governments are expected to deliver their national statement or speech.

Nigeria's President Tinubu was billed to speak on Friday alongside other heads of state. Tinubu was 36 on the list to represent Nigeria but did not speak. This raised questions about the country's position at the conference, The Cable reported.

When asked why the president did not deliver his speech as scheduled, Tuggar said: “The president was in the hall, he waited, he was going to give the speech, he listened and he decided, perhaps, that was not the time to give the speech. There were other engagements that he needed to be involved in that would be more productive.”

Some Nigerians did not accept this explanation by the presidency. Legit.ng captured some of their reactions on X.

@Charlesiwegbun tweeted: "He has nothing to offer."

@EdiomoD tweeted: "Because he had nothing tangible to say."

@Emperorpapillo tweeted:· "Always having reasons for everything! Why can’t the handlers rest sometimes and allow governance to be the priority and not respond to every statement out there???"