Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim has given another reason for President Bola Tinubu’s absence from the 81st UN General Assembly. Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN said Tinubu could not attend just to deliver a 15-minute speech. He spoke on TVC’s Beyond Headlines programme. “The presidents are allowed in the UN under UNGA for 15 minutes. Is that the reason why he should board a flight and be here for 15 minutes?”
Ibrahim added that 60% of the speakers on this year’s list are vice presidents and foreign affairs ministers. He argued that the President should not sit where his equivalent is a minister of foreign affairs. “I promised that Nigeria will be on the front-row seat at UNGA. Are we not on the front-row seat? Nigeria is sitting at number eight seat and America is at number 26th seat at the back of Nigeria’s seat,” he said.
Nigerian presidents have historically attended UNGA in person. Muhammadu Buhari attended most years, though he skipped 2019. Vice presidents have substituted when presidents were unavailable, as in 2017 when Yemi Osinbajo led while Buhari was ill. Tinubu’s absence follows a precedent but has drawn unusual scrutiny.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticised Tinubu’s decision to stay away for the third consecutive year. He questioned why Tinubu did not show up after Ibrahim reportedly said arrangements had been made for him to sit close to US President Donald Trump. Atiku linked the absence to Tinubu’s past legal history in the US. The Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, said Tinubu is on annual leave and mandated Shettima to lead the delegation.
Winners: Shettima, who leads the delegation. Ibrahim, who defends the decision. Losers: Tinubu, whose absence invites criticism. Atiku, whose criticism is dismissed. Nigeria’s diplomatic optics, if the absence is read as disinterest.
Bottom Line: Tinubu skipped UNGA for a 15-minute speech. The envoy says that is not worth the flight. Atiku says it is a pattern. Nigeria retains its front-row seat. The President stays in France.