Former Senate President Pius Anyim has said President Bola Tinubu’s absence from the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York should not be a cause for concern.
Anyim, who also served as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said Tinubu’s decision to delegate Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent Nigeria at the gathering was not unusual.
He made the remarks on Monday while appearing on ARISE NEWS’ Prime Time.
Tinubu had extended his stay abroad after initially planning to return to Nigeria following a working vacation. The Presidency said the President would return at the weekend after extending his stay by a few days.
Meanwhile, Shettima is in New York leading Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st UN General Assembly and is expected to present the country’s national statement.
Anyim questioned why Tinubu’s absence had generated concern, arguing that the Vice President was capable of representing the country at the annual gathering.
“I really don’t understand why his absence should be an issue. I think Nigerians know very well that the President is on short leave, a short vacation.
“He simply assigned his Vice President to undertake the assignment. I don’t know why we are making so much out of this. There is nothing that compares to the President being at UNGA. The Vice President can represent the country, even the Foreign Minister,” he said.
Explaining the structure of the UN General Assembly, Anyim said the event comprises the main General Assembly as well as bilateral and multilateral meetings held on the sidelines.
He said the President’s physical presence would become significant where there were specific engagements that required his personal attendance.
“The structure of UNGA involves the General Assembly and side meetings. Side meetings could be bilateral or multilateral. What you present in that General Assembly statement is simply reading a statement from your country. This is something that the Vice President can do,” he said.
Anyim also dismissed concerns that Tinubu’s absence could affect any potential meeting with United States President Donald Trump, saying engagements between heads of government are generally scheduled in advance.
“It’s not about meeting the President by chance. The fact that you sit together with the President doesn’t mean anything. The President of America normally would have a schedule set ahead of time,” he said.
He further noted that Tinubu was not the only world leader who had chosen not to attend the annual UN gathering in person.
“It doesn’t matter. After all, there are many heads of state who don’t go,” Anyim said.
The Presidency has said Tinubu remains engaged in government affairs while away, including through directives issued from abroad. It also said the President had delegated Shettima to represent him at the UNGA while the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, continues to represent him at some official functions in Nigeria.
