Former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim has defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision not to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly in person, saying the President’s absence should not be treated as a major issue because Vice President Kashim Shettima is representing Nigeria.
Anyim, who also served as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, spoke during an interview with ARISE NEWS as Shettima led Nigeria’s delegation to the high-level UNGA session in New York.
Tinubu is currently on annual leave, while Shettima has been mandated to represent him at the gathering. The Federal Government has said the Vice President carries the full mandate of the President and the Federal Republic of Nigeria during the engagements.
Anyim argued that there was nothing unusual about a president delegating representation at the UN General Assembly. He said the Vice President was capable of delivering Nigeria’s position and participating in the activities assigned to him.
The former Senate President also distinguished between the main General Assembly session and the bilateral and multilateral meetings that take place on the sidelines. He said the President’s personal absence would be more significant if there were specific meetings that had been scheduled for him and which could not be transferred to another official.
According to Anyim, simply appearing at the General Assembly to deliver a national statement was an assignment that could be performed by the Vice President or even the Foreign Minister.
He also played down speculation about the potential significance of Tinubu not being physically present alongside United States President Donald Trump. Anyim said the seating arrangement at the General Assembly should not automatically be interpreted as a planned diplomatic meeting, noting that the schedules of heads of government are generally arranged in advance.
The Federal Government has similarly maintained that Tinubu’s absence does not diminish Nigeria’s diplomatic standing. Information Minister Mohammed Idris said the President’s decision to remain on annual leave and delegate the assignment to Shettima was neither unusual nor a reduction in Nigeria’s representation.
Shettima is expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement and participate in high-level and bilateral engagements during the UNGA. Nigeria is also using the gathering to advance issues including reform of the global financial system, climate action, sustainable development, international cooperation and the country’s campaign for permanent African representation on the UN Security Council.
The President’s absence has nevertheless generated political debate. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has questioned Tinubu’s decision not to attend personally, particularly because this is the third consecutive UN General Assembly that Tinubu has delegated representation to the Vice President.
The Presidency has rejected suggestions that the absence is connected to any restriction preventing Tinubu from travelling to the United States. A presidential aide said there was no such impediment and pointed to Tinubu’s previous travel to the US.
For Anyim, however, the central issue is that Nigeria remains represented at the international gathering and that the Vice President has been given the authority to carry out the President’s mandate.
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