Nigeria Explains Why Tinubu Skipped U.N. Meeting in New York

(Jimoh Ibrahim. Photo by The Guardian Nigeria News)

Nigeria's United Nations, ambassador has defended President Tinubu's absence from the ongoing UN General Assembly in New York, arguing that the President has no reason to fly there just to speak for 15 minutes.

Jimoh Ibrahim said that most speakers on this year's U.N. speaking list are foreign affairs ministers and vice presidents rather than presidents.

With presidents limited to only 15 minutes of speaking time, it makes no sense for Tinubu to leave Paris where he is on vacation and make the trip.

Vice President Kashim Shettima is representing Nigeria at the assembly and has been attending high-level bilateral meetings between countries on neutral ground, Ibrahim noted.

He stressed that these meetings serve Nigeria's interests just as effectively.

Ibrahim highlighted that Nigeria holds a prominent seat at the U.N. assembly, sitting in position 8 while America sits at position 26, behind Nigeria.

This positioning alone demonstrates Nigeria's standing on the global stage, he said.

He also pointed out that even US President Donald Trump did not stay for the full assembly, coming to give a speech then leaving.

Nigeria continues to make the impact it should globally without the President physically present, Ibrahim argued.

The ambassador said that as chair of the UN's administration and budget committee, if he were to advise the President on attending, he would not recommend it given that the majority of speakers are ministers and vice presidents rather than fellow presidents.