Former Senate President Pius Anyim says President Bola Tinubu’s absence from the ongoing United Nations General Assembly in New York should not be a concern.
Anyim, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said Tinubu’s decision to delegate the responsibility to Vice President Kashim Shettima was not unusual.
He made the remarks on Monday while appearing on ARISE NEWS’ Prime Time.
Tinubu, who had initially been expected to return to Nigeria after a short working vacation, extended his stay abroad. The Presidency said he would use the additional period for a private visit and other engagements before returning to the country.
Shettima is currently representing Nigeria at the 80th session of the UNGA in the United States.
Anyim said the Vice President had the constitutional authority to represent Nigeria at the gathering, arguing that Tinubu’s absence should not generate concern.
“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.
The former Senate President explained that the annual UNGA programme consists of the General Assembly as well as bilateral and multilateral meetings held on the sidelines.
He said Tinubu’s absence would only be significant if there were engagements scheduled that specifically 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 prevent him from meeting United States President Donald Trump, noting that engagements between world leaders are generally arranged ahead of time.
“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 opted not to attend the annual gathering personally.
“It doesn’t matter. After all, there are many heads of state who don’t go,” Anyim said.