Opposition Demands Answers as Tinubu Skips UNGA Third Straight Year

•Nigeria Can’t Pay for Tinubu’s US Baggage – Atiku

•Sowore Alleges Fear of Arrest Behind President’s Absence

•Presidency Dismisses Concerns, Says Nigeria’s Global Role Remains Intact

President Bola Tinubu will miss the United Nations General Assembly for the third consecutive year, triggering fresh questions from opposition figures over his decision to stay away from the gathering of world leaders.

Tinubu has instead mandated Vice-President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st Session of the UNGA in New York, United States, where he is expected to present the country’s national position on major global and domestic issues. ([Channels TV][1])

The decision means Tinubu will not personally attend the 79th, 80th and 81st sessions after attending the 78th General Assembly in 2023. Shettima represented him at the 2024 and 2025 sessions and will do so again this year. ([Channels TV][2])

The latest decision has drawn sharp reactions from opposition politicians, with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar demanding an explanation for what he described as a recurring pattern with diplomatic and economic implications.

African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has gone further, alleging that Tinubu’s absence is connected to fears of arrest in the United States. The allegation has not been established by the evidence cited publicly, while the Presidency has rejected suggestions that the President has any problem travelling to the US.

The Presidency has instead maintained that Nigeria’s interests will remain adequately represented in New York, with Shettima leading a high-level delegation comprising governors, ministers and other senior officials. ([Channels TV][1])

The controversy is coming against the backdrop of an earlier announcement by Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, that Tinubu had agreed to attend the 81st session.

Ibrahim had said in July that the President would use the gathering to explain his administration’s reforms and engage the international community on Nigeria’s development priorities.

He also indicated that Tinubu would participate prominently in the proceedings and deliver Nigeria’s position on issues of international concern.

That plan has now changed, with the Presidency confirming that Shettima will represent the President.

Nigeria can’t pay for Tinubu’s US baggage – Atiku

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, said the President’s repeated absence required more than a routine explanation.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said Tinubu’s absence from three consecutive UNGA sessions had created a pattern that Nigerians deserved to understand.

He argued that the General Assembly was not simply a ceremonial event but an important diplomatic platform where national leaders pursue partnerships, investment, trade opportunities and development financing.

According to Atiku, the UNGA also provides presidents with the opportunity to meet directly with other heads of government and advance their countries’ interests at the highest level.

He acknowledged that Shettima could represent Nigeria but argued that repeated delegation could not permanently replace the President’s personal presence at such a major diplomatic gathering.

Atiku said the cost of missing such opportunities could ultimately affect Nigerians through reduced investment and weaker economic opportunities.

He consequently framed Tinubu’s absence as an issue that went beyond the President’s personal decision.

“The cost is eventually transferred to ordinary citizens,” Atiku said, arguing that reduced capital inflows could put additional pressure on the naira and worsen the cost of imports, production, transportation and food.

The former vice-president also raised questions about Tinubu’s history with US law-enforcement authorities.

He referred to a 1993 forfeiture proceeding in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois involving funds held in accounts associated with Tinubu and companies linked to him.

Atiku cited allegations contained in the US proceedings concerning narcotics trafficking and money laundering and said the case eventually resulted in the forfeiture of about $460,000 to the US government.

He did not, however, claim that Tinubu is legally barred from entering the United States.

Atiku instead questioned whether the President’s past legal controversy had become a factor in Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement with the US.

He also asked why Tinubu had repeatedly chosen not to attend the UNGA since 2024, despite the importance of the gathering to Nigeria’s international interests.

Atiku’s criticism has added a political dimension to an issue that had initially centred on whether the President would attend the annual meeting.

Sowore alleges fear of arrest behind President’s absence

Sowore, meanwhile, made a more direct allegation about the reason for Tinubu’s absence.

In a post on X, the AAC presidential candidate alleged that Tinubu could not attend the UNGA because he feared possible arrest by the US government over what Sowore described as a past drug-related case.

Sowore also alleged that Tinubu was receiving medical treatment in France rather than spending a vacation there.

Those claims remain allegations by Sowore. The Presidency has not confirmed them, and no evidence establishing a link between the President’s UNGA absence and a threat of arrest has emerged in the reports reviewed. ([Sahara Reporters][3])

Sowore also questioned the manner in which Tinubu’s absence from the UNGA had unfolded, arguing that Nigerians deserved greater transparency over the President’s movements and activities abroad.

His comments came shortly after the Presidency confirmed that Shettima would represent Tinubu at the 81st General Assembly.

Sowore’s intervention has therefore widened the debate from diplomatic representation to questions about the President’s reasons for remaining away from New York.

The Presidency has rejected suggestions that Tinubu has difficulties travelling to the United States.

Presidency dismisses concerns, says Nigeria’s global role remains intact

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, Ademola Osodi, said Tinubu’s absence would not affect Nigeria’s position in international affairs.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Osodi said Nigeria had interests across several regional, continental and international groupings.

He said Tinubu was concentrating on domestic priorities, including the economy and security, while also engaging with other international platforms.

“Nigeria has a diverse interest in all regional groups, continental groups and even groups of the South-South like the BRICS,” Osodi said.

He added that the United Nations was only one of the international bodies through which Nigeria pursued its interests.

“With or without his presence there will not change Nigeria’s role as giant of Africa, the leader of the economic resurgence of Africa,” the presidential aide said. ([Channels TV][2])

Osodi also dismissed suggestions that Tinubu was unable to travel to the United States because of problems with American authorities.

He described the suggestion as an “old chestnut”, pointing to Tinubu’s previous visits to the country.

According to Osodi, he was physically present when Tinubu attended the UNGA in 2023 and participated in meetings in New York.

He recalled that the President visited the New York Stock Exchange during that trip and rang the opening bell.

Osodi also said Tinubu and his delegation had later transited through Los Angeles on their way to Japan for engagements connected with the Japanese development agency.

He argued that those trips showed that Tinubu had travelled through the United States without the restrictions being suggested by critics.

“So it is politics, we can talk about this every single election cycle, it is just politics,” Osodi said. ([Channels TV][2])

He further said Nigeria would be adequately represented at the UNGA through Shettima and the country’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Jimoh Ibrahim.

Shettima will lead a delegation that includes Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, ministers and other senior government officials. ([Channels TV][1])

The 81st UNGA General Debate is scheduled for September 22 to 28 under the theme, “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.” ([Channels TV][1])

Shettima is expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement and engage other world leaders and international officials during the high-level meetings.

His participation will also provide Nigeria with an opportunity to pursue discussions on economic growth, peace and security, development cooperation and other issues affecting the country.

Last year, Shettima represented Tinubu at the 80th UNGA, where he engaged UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Nigeria’s push for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

The Vice-President’s continued role at the General Assembly has consequently become a familiar feature of the Tinubu administration’s international representation.

However, this year’s decision has attracted greater attention because of Ibrahim’s earlier disclosure that Tinubu had personally agreed to attend.

That change has provided fresh ammunition for opposition figures who want the Presidency to explain the President’s decision.

Atiku has focused on the diplomatic and economic consequences of repeated presidential absence, while Sowore has advanced allegations about possible legal and medical reasons.

The Presidency has rejected those concerns and maintained that the Vice-President’s presence will ensure that Nigeria remains fully represented.

With the General Debate set to begin, the immediate focus will now shift to the issues Shettima raises on Nigeria’s behalf and the diplomatic engagements he undertakes in New York.

The controversy over Tinubu’s absence, however, is likely to remain part of the political debate at home as the President stays away from the third consecutive UNGA since taking office.