What does President Tinubu's absence from the UN General Assembly in New York mean?
The Deputy Head of State of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, announced at the end of the month that President Bola Tinubu has instructed him to lead the country to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on the 81st session to be held in New York City, America.
Preparations are underway to hold the discussions of the UNGA from the 22nd to the 28th of September 2026.
The absence of the head of state has led to a debate among opponents in the country about the reason why Tinubu did not attend the third major assembly.
Since Tinubu decided not to attend the assembly in 2023, the head of state has not attended the sessions in 2024, 2025, and 2026, during which his deputies, Kashim Shettima, were sent to represent him at each time.
Some believe that the absence from the three assemblies violates the rule, and this could affect Nigeria's relations with the world.
The UNGA is seen as one of the important venues where heads of state discuss issues of security, trade, and progress in seeking investment and cooperation with other countries.
Some people have started accusing Tinubu of absence from the assembly.
In another statement, the former Deputy Head of State of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, alleged that perhaps the former "four-fold" law that the US government used to conduct on "some funds related to Tinubu in the 1990s" was the reason the head of state fled the United States.
However, the head of state has denied this accusation.
Why did Tinubu not attend?
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The head of state is not attending the 81st UNGA session by himself because he is on vacation in France.
The Nigerian delegation to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, said that the absence of the head of state does not mean that Nigeria does not have a representation at the assembly, as the country will continue to participate in all the sessions to be held.
The Special Delegate for the President on foreign affairs, Ademola Osodi, said that Tinubu's absence from the assembly will not reduce Nigeria's influence in diplomatic or leadership matters in Africa.
As he spoke on Sunday Politics on Channels TV, Osodi said that the president is focused on important domestic issues, especially the economy and security.
He added that Nigeria continues to interact with the world through various channels, not just the United Nations.
"There are important issues related to the economy and security that the president is focusing on at home," Osodi said.
He also said that Tinubu's presence or absence at the assembly will not change Nigeria's status as one of the major African countries.
What does Tinubu's absence mean for Nigeria?
Diplomacy experts in Nigeria have started focusing on the consequences the country faces due to the absence of President Bola Tinubu from the third UNGA session.
Experts believe that this could prevent Nigeria from some benefits in dealing with heads of state to improve relations.
The Ambassador Aminu Iyawa, former Nigerian diplomat in Mexico, said that any head of state who knows the importance of this assembly will not attend by himself unless there is a compelling reason.
"Many people assume that these answers that heads of state give at the assembly are the most important, and that is not true," he said.
He said that there is an opportunity for heads of state to make statements at the side of the assembly, which is more useful for any country that has special needs, especially those with the nature of Nigeria.
The expert said that "Nigeria is in a difficult position" due to the absence of President Tinubu from the three preceding sessions. In his opinion, heads of state prefer to see their subordinates to make decisions and take actions that a representative cannot.
'The benefits Nigeria faces'
The Ambassador said that Nigeria can use this opportunity to seek concessions from the World Bank and IMF, whose heads are the United States, India, France, and China.
He said that it is not unreasonable to look at the demands made by the deputies, but if Tinubu wanted to seek some concessions or reduce them, he could have done so.
"Any leader who wants his country to prosper will do..., perhaps President Tinubu did not take this important assembly," he said.
As for the issue of concessions, Nigeria can seek concessions, there is a lot of room for Nigeria.
He said that the result of how the country seeks investors to enter the country in the fields of oil, mining, and other countries, will not attract the world's attention if its president does not have a similar stance.
"If he does not speak to them, there is no effect to be made... If you want your country to prosper, to gain value, to speak, then I see you speak to them," said the Ambassador Iyawa.
'No one prevents Tinubu from going to America'
The head of state has denied the accusation that the absence of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) by President Bola Tinubu for the third time is related to any conspiracy placed on him to go to America.
Ademola Osodi said that such an accusation is just a political matter, stating: "There is no problem or conspiracy or anything."
Osodi said that he has taken Tinubu to America during the 2023 UNGA, and then recalled a trip they made to Los Angeles before going to Yokohama in Japan.
In his opinion, these trips showed that the head of state can go to America without any problem.
"We went to America and we are with him. This is just politics, it is just repetition because we are in the election," Osodi said.
However, the Deputy Head of State of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, reached New York on Saturday, where the country is scheduled to present its response on Thursday at the UNGA.
What is his status at the assembly?
The Nigerian delegation to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, said that Nigeria will continue to maintain its special position and status at the UNGA, even though the Deputy Head of State Kashim Shettima will represent President Tinubu.
In another statement from the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in New York, Ibrahim said that more than 60 of the countries that will give answers at the assembly have sent their representatives or ministers on their behalf.
He said there is nothing new in the extent that the countries are taking to send their delegates or ministers to represent their heads at the UNGA.
The Deputy added that Shettima and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, will attend all the important sessions and diplomatic meetings at the assembly.
"The deputy head of state and the minister of foreign affairs have the full authority to represent Nigeria and protect our interests at the assembly."