The Presidency has dismissed suggestions that President Bola Tinubu’s decision to skip the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York is linked to strained relations with the United States.
The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, Ademola Osodi, said Tinubu had no issues with the US, describing the suggestion as an old political argument.
Osodi spoke during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, where he recalled Tinubu’s previous visits and stopovers in the United States.
“I was with the President when he went to the United Nations; physically I was there, you saw it on social media. He went to the stock exchange, he rang the bell, he had meetings on the side,” Osodi said.
He also recalled that Tinubu recently spent several days in Los Angeles while travelling to Japan, saying the development showed that the President’s absence from the UNGA should not be interpreted as a diplomatic problem with Washington.
“We were in Los Angeles for few days before we flew to Yokohama, Japan. We were in America, I was there with them. So it is politics, we can talk about this every single election cycle, it is just politics,” he said.
Tinubu’s absence from the 81st UNGA will be the third consecutive year he has not personally attended the high-level General Debate. Vice President Kashim Shettima has been designated to lead Nigeria’s delegation and deliver the country’s national statement.
Defending the President’s decision, Osodi said Tinubu was focused on domestic issues, including the economy and security.
He also argued that Nigeria’s international role would not be affected by the President’s absence from the gathering.
“Nigeria has a diverse interest in all regional groups, continental groups and even groups of the South-South like the BRICS. So, the United Nations is not the only group that we are member of,” Osodi said.
“With or without his presence there will not change Nigeria’s role as giant of Africa, the leader of the economic resurgence of Africa,” he added.
The development has attracted criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who said the UNGA provided an important platform for world leaders to advance their countries’ diplomatic and economic interests.
The 81st UN General Debate is scheduled to open on September 22 and continue until September 28, with Shettima expected to represent Nigeria at the session.
