President Bola Tinubu
Media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, has questioned President Bola Tinubu’s decision not to personally lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
Ibe, in a statement posted on Monday, said the Presidency had confirmed that Vice President Kashim Shettima would represent Nigeria at the annual global gathering, making it the third consecutive UNGA session that President Tinubu would miss.
He noted that President Tinubu attended the UN General Assembly only once since assuming office on May 29, 2023, when he addressed the 78th session in September 2023.
According to Ibe, Nigerians deserve an explanation for the President’s repeated absence from what he described as one of the world’s most important meetings of heads of state and government.
He said, “The Presidency @NGRPresident has now confirmed that Vice President Kashim Shettima will represent Nigeria at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. Meanwhile, President Tinubu is in Paris wining and dining with Macron.”
He added, “That makes it three consecutive UNGA sessions — 2024, 2025 and now 2026 — at which President Bola Tinubu will not personally lead Nigeria’s delegation.”
Ibe also questioned why President Tinubu did not attend this year’s assembly despite earlier indications that he was expected to address the General Assembly on September 23 and possibly hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines.
He asked, “But why is the President of Africa’s most populous country repeatedly absent from one of the world’s most important annual gatherings of heads of state and government? What is he running away from?”
He continued, “What changed?”
The opposition spokesman argued that this year’s UNGA is significant because it is expected to be the final session before the end of President Tinubu’s current tenure in May 2027.
According to him, Nigeria needs stronger international engagement to attract investment, deepen security cooperation, expand trade partnerships and strengthen its diplomatic influence.
Ibe also criticised the administration’s handling of Nigeria’s diplomatic missions, recalling that ambassadors were withdrawn in 2023 and that new ambassadorial appointments were not announced until March 2026.
He said, “Diplomacy is not ceremonial decoration. Ambassadors cultivate political access, defend national interests, facilitate investment, protect citizens abroad, negotiate agreements and keep Nigeria continuously represented at the highest levels.”
He added, “We cannot aspire to continental leadership while treating diplomacy as an afterthought.”
Ibe further questioned whether there were diplomatic or political reasons behind President Tinubu’s decision not to attend the UN gathering.
He asked, “Why did the President change his plans? Why will he not personally attend UNGA?”
He also queried, “Was any bilateral engagement with President Trump sought or scheduled? Was any such meeting declined or abandoned? Were there diplomatic, political, security or other considerations behind the decision?”
Calling for greater transparency, Ibe said the Presidency should provide answers to Nigerians.
He stated, “The Presidency should simply tell Nigerians.”
He concluded, “The office of President belongs to the Nigerian people. When the country’s international representation changes suddenly on the eve of the world’s most important diplomatic gathering, asking ‘Why?’ is not hostility. It is accountability.”
The Presidency had earlier announced that Vice President Kashim Shettima would lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on behalf of President Bola Tinubu. The annual UNGA brings together world leaders to discuss global peace, security, economic development, climate change and international cooperation.
As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency has not publicly responded to the concerns raised by Paul Ibe regarding the President’s absence from this year’s General Assembly.
