Envoy defends Tinubu’s UN absence and Nigeria’s front-row position

Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s absence from the 81st General Assembly, saying the country retained a prominent position at the gathering. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ibrahim said he would not have recommended that Tinubu travel to New York after it became clear that more than 60 per cent of scheduled speakers would be represented by vice presidents or foreign ministers. He said there was no need for the President to leave other national responsibilities to deliver a speech of about 15 minutes when senior officials could represent countries.

Ibrahim noted that the presidents of South Africa, China and Russia were also absent, and said Vice President Kashim Shettima adequately represented Nigeria. Ibrahim had earlier said he secured a seat close to United States President Donald Trump for Tinubu. He argued that he had fulfilled his promise to place Nigeria in a prominent position, saying the country occupied the sixth seat in the front row.

He also said Trump did not remain in the General Assembly chamber after delivering his speech. Ibrahim argued that the US president would have been seated behind Nigeria had he stayed. The envoy further defended Tinubu’s four-week stay in Europe, which drew criticism from opposition figures including African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.

Atiku questioned whether the President had transmitted a written declaration under Section 145 of the Constitution. Ibrahim said Tinubu had not breached the Constitution and described the trip as a working leave. Tinubu returned to Nigeria from Paris on Tuesday and said he was healthy and ready to work, according to the supplied report.