UNGA Absence: Tinubu Has No Issues With US, Says Presidential Aide

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The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, Ademola Osodi, has dismissed suggestions that the President has strained relations with the United States following his decision to skip the United Nations General Assembly for the third consecutive year.

Osodi described the suggestion as an “old chestnut” during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, insisting that Tinubu had travelled to the US on previous occasions.

He recalled accompanying the President to the UN General Assembly in the past, saying Tinubu attended meetings and other engagements during the visit.

“I was with the President when he went to the United Nations; physically I was there, you saw it on social media. He went to the stock exchange, he rang the bell, he had meetings on the side. Even in more recent times, I think last year, we transited Los Angeles on our way to Japan for the Japanese Development Agency,” Osodi said.

The presidential aide also said Tinubu recently spent a few days in Los Angeles while transiting through the US on his way to Yokohama, Japan.

“We were in Los Angeles for few days before we flew to Yokohama, Japan. We were in America, I was there with them. So it is politics, we can talk about this every single election cycle, it is just politics,” he said.

Osodi’s comments followed criticism over Tinubu’s decision to miss the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York for the third consecutive year.

The Presidency had announced that Vice President Kashim Shettima would represent Tinubu and lead Nigeria’s delegation to the gathering.

Defending the President’s absence, Osodi said Tinubu was concentrating on domestic priorities, particularly the economy and security, while maintaining that Nigeria’s international interests would remain unaffected.

“Nigeria has a diverse interest in all regional groups, continental groups and even groups of the South-South like the BRICS. So, the United Nations is not the only group that we are member of,” he said.

“With or without his presence there will not change Nigeria’s role as giant of Africa, the leader of the economic resurgence of Africa,” Osodi added.

He further said Nigeria would be adequately represented at the UN General Assembly through the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim.

However, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar called for an explanation over Tinubu’s third consecutive absence from the gathering.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the UN General Assembly as an important platform for world leaders to advance their countries’ diplomatic and economic interests.

“Vice President Shettima may represent Nigeria capably, but representation by delegation cannot permanently substitute for the personal authority, visibility and responsibility of the President,” Atiku said.

He also questioned Tinubu’s absence despite reports that Ibrahim had said arrangements were made for the President to sit close to US President Donald Trump.

“The seat was secured, but the President disappeared,” Atiku said.