Atiku Demands Explanation for Tinubu's Third Straight UNGA Absence

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Tinubu to explain his absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, marking the third consecutive year Tinubu has missed the gathering since taking office in 2023. Vice President Kashim Shettima is leading Nigeria's delegation in his place.

Atiku, in a statement by his aide Phrank Shaibu, said the pattern of absence can no longer be dismissed as routine delegation and questioned whether Tinubu's documented history with U.S. law-enforcement agencies has become a burden on Nigeria's foreign relations. He argued that presidential presence at UNGA is critical for bilateral meetings, investment pitches, and shaping global decisions on trade and security.

“Tinubu cannot continue to treat Nigeria's seat at the world's biggest diplomatic table as though it were an inconvenient appointment that can be endlessly outsourced.”

The presidency confirmed Shettima's mandate on Sunday through spokesperson Stanley Nkwocha, listing a high-level delegation that includes the governors of Rivers and Zamfara states alongside ministers. Nigeria's UN envoy, Jimoh Ibrahim, had earlier indicated Tinubu would attend and sit near U.S. President Donald Trump.

Public reaction has focused on whether the president's absence is linked to renewed scrutiny over an alleged drug case. Atiku warned that investment does not follow silence and that Nigeria loses opportunities when its leader repeatedly abandons the diplomatic stage.