Insignificance of Presidential Attendance and Speeches: UNGA as Instrument of Great Power Politics

The argument about the insignificance of presidential attendance and speeches at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is a debate that has two distinct schools of thought. One group believes that UNGA is an essential platform for promoting global peace, security, and conflict resolution; the other argues that it is merely an instrument of great power politics, which serves the interests of powerful countries while disadvantaging weak nations.

This debate is particularly relevant regarding Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's (PBAT) attendance and speeches at recent sessions.

If we accept that UNGA is an instrument of great power politics, then attending the summit and participating in the General Debate would largely depend on the potential gains Nigeria could achieve from it. This is akin to Nigeria's foreign policy concentricism, which divides the world into four concentric circles based on priority, with the innermost being Nigeria and its contiguous immediate neighbors, where Nigeria's security is closely linked to its neighbors' stability.

PBAT's speeches and attendance at the General Debate must consider the benefits for Nigerians in each of these concentric circles.

For example, when PBAT addressed the UNGA General Debate on September 20, 2023, he congratulated the UNGA President and Secretary-General, highlighted Nigeria's and Africa's challenges, and acknowledged the importance of maintaining friendly relations with all nations while avoiding entanglement in rigid power blocs. However, the question remains: what does Nigeria gain or lose from PBAT's attendance or non-attendance at the UNGA sessions?

The answer lies in understanding that the UNGA may be a platform for self-pleasing declarations, easing tensions, and complaining about poor governance, but it may not always be in Nigeria's best interest to participate in these activities.