Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision not to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.

He said Nigeria still maintained a strong presence at the event through Vice President Kashim Shettima, who led the country’s delegation.

Speaking on a television programme on Tuesday, Ibrahim said he would not have advised the President to travel after it became clear that more than 60 per cent of scheduled speakers were being represented by vice presidents or foreign ministers.

He argued there was little reason for Tinubu to leave important national matters for a short speech when many other countries were also represented by senior officials.

Ibrahim noted that the presidents of South Africa, China, Russia and some other nations were also absent. He maintained that Shettima adequately represented Nigeria and delivered the country’s national statement.

The envoy also defended his earlier claim of securing a prominent seat for Nigeria at the General Assembly, close to that of United States President Donald Trump. He said Nigeria occupied the sixth position in the front row and retained the seat even though Tinubu did not attend.

On the President’s extended stay in Europe, Ibrahim rejected suggestions that Tinubu had breached the Constitution.

He described the trip as a working leave rather than an absolute one. Tinubu had left Nigeria on August 30 for an initially announced three-week vacation, later extended his stay, and returned from Paris on Tuesday after about four weeks abroad.

Photo credit: Punch Newspaper