UNGA: Tinubu’s cancellation of attendance sparks fresh debates

The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, has cancelled his attendance at the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, fueling new debates across the country. Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, had previously announced that Tinubu would attend the event, even securing a seat near that of United States President Donald Trump.

However, a recent statement by Vice President Kashim Shettima's spokesman revealed that Tinubu had appointed Shettima to lead the Nigerian delegation and deliver the national statement at the UNGA.

This decision has sparked controversy among Nigerians, with some questioning the President’s motives and raising concerns about his potential arrest related to a drug trafficking case in the US. Others speculate that the cancellation might be linked to President Trump’s executive order designating foreign drug cartels as terrorist organisations. Despite these claims, the presidency has dismissed them as unfounded.

The cancellation of Tinubu’s attendance at the UNGA, which has occurred in the past three consecutive events since he took office in 2023, has drawn criticism. Former Vice President and presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has urged Tinubu to explain his decision, particularly given the repeated absences of Nigeria’s delegation from the UN General Assembly. He argued that personal controversies should not overshadow Nigeria’s role in international diplomacy.