‘A seat was secured but the President disappeared’, Atiku taunts Tinubu over UNGA absence

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Tinubu to provide a comprehensive explanation for his repeated absence from the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). In a statement released on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku questioned whether the President's past legal troubles with American law enforcement agencies have negatively impacted Nigeria's foreign relations.

He pointed out that Tinubu missed the 79th UNGA session in 2024, the 80th in 2025, and now the 81st session in 2026, consistently sending Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent him. Atiku emphasized that three consecutive absences cannot be ignored as mere coincidence or routine delegation but rather signify a pattern of presidential avoidance that demands an honest explanation.

He stressed that the United Nations General Assembly is a crucial diplomatic forum where leaders defend their countries' interests, engage in negotiations, and shape global decisions. Atiku argued that Tinubu cannot continue treating Nigeria's presence in the UNGA as an inconvenient obligation that can be continually outsourced.

He warned that the President's prolonged absence has economic consequences, as it deprives the country of potential investments, foreign capital, and development opportunities. Atiku highlighted that Nigeria's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, secured a seat "not too far from where the US President, Donald Trump, will be seated," but Tinubu still failed to attend.

He criticized the decision, questioning why Tinubu did not capitalize on the opportunity and instead sent his deputy. Atiku further criticized the administration's decision to spend up to $9 million of Nigeria's limited foreign exchange on American lobbyists to improve its standing in Washington. He questioned what Nigerians received in return for the spent funds and why the President could not attend the world's most significant diplomatic gathering in New York.

Atiku suggested that Tinubu might be afraid of scrutiny abroad due to his controversial academic background and documented drug-related issues. He posed rhetorical questions about whether Tinubu is projecting bravado domestically while appearing intimidated by international scrutiny.