By Ado Oyeyemi
President Bola Tinubu’s decision not to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York has triggered fresh reactions, following an earlier announcement that he would personally participate in the annual gathering.
Vice President Kashim Shettima is instead leading Nigeria’s delegation to the General Assembly, where he is expected to deliver the country’s national statement and participate in high-level meetings and bilateral engagements.
The development came after Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, had announced in July that Tinubu would attend the 81st UNGA. Ibrahim had also said a seat had been secured for the President close to that of United States President Donald Trump.
However, the Presidency later confirmed that Tinubu would not travel to New York, with Shettima mandated to represent him at the session, which runs from September 22 to 28. The United Nations has confirmed that the General Debate is taking place during the period.
According to a statement issued by Shettima’s spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President will lead a delegation comprising Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara; Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal; ministers and other senior government officials.
The Presidency said Shettima’s engagements would include discussions on development, climate action, international cooperation and reforms to the global financial architecture, as well as bilateral meetings with foreign leaders and development partners.
Tinubu’s absence has nevertheless generated debate, particularly because it is his third consecutive absence from the UNGA since assuming office in 2023. Shettima represented Nigeria at the 2024 and 2025 sessions.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has questioned the repeated absence, arguing that the President’s physical presence at the gathering would provide opportunities to engage directly with world leaders, investors and development partners.
Through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku also raised questions about Tinubu’s previous legal controversies in the United States and whether they had any bearing on the President’s decision.
He, however, acknowledged that there was no publicly announced legal restriction preventing Tinubu from travelling to the US.
The Presidency has rejected suggestions that the President’s absence was connected to such allegations.
In its latest statement, the State House said Tinubu had extended his working vacation by a few days and was expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend. It also described insinuations linking his absence from the UNGA to other issues as baseless.
Meanwhile, Ibrahim has defended Nigeria’s representation at the UNGA, saying there was nothing unusual about a country being represented by its vice president or foreign minister when its president was unavailable.
The envoy said more than 60 per cent of those scheduled to speak at the session were being represented by vice presidents or foreign ministers, adding that Shettima and the Minister of Foreign Affairs were adequately positioned to represent Nigeria.
The development has continued to generate reactions on social media, with some Nigerians questioning the President’s decision while others argue that the country’s interests can still be effectively represented by the delegation led by the Vice President.
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With Shettima now representing the President, Nigeria is expected to participate fully in the General Debate and other high-level engagements scheduled for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
