Tinubu is on leave, UNGA not so important, says Otubanjo

A Research Professor at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Professor Femi Otubanjo, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly should be viewed in the context of his annual leave, arguing that the gathering is “not so important” as to require the physical presence of the President.

Otubanjo made the remarks on Tuesday while speaking on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle FM, during a discussion on Tinubu’s absence from the UNGA in New York.

The professor said public commentary on the President’s absence should take into account the fact that Tinubu is currently on annual leave and has delegated Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent him at the global gathering.

“Majority of people talk without putting it in the proper context. Number one context is that President Bola Tinubu is on his annual leave and when he is on leave, he leaves the work of the office to other people to do it and UNGA is not so important,” Otubanjo said.

He stressed that the central consideration should be Nigeria’s national interest rather than the physical presence of the President at an international gathering.

“The main thing is Nigeria’s national interest,” he said.

According to Otubanjo, Nigeria has not been left without representation, noting that Shettima is leading the country’s delegation and carries the authority to represent the President.

“What is important, very important, is that we are represented. And we are represented at the highest level. That is the Vice President,” he said.

Shettima arrived in New York on September 20 to represent Tinubu and lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st UNGA. The General Debate opened on September 22 and is scheduled to run until September 28. Shettima is expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement and participate in high-level meetings and bilateral engagements with world leaders, international organisations and development partners.

The Federal Government has similarly maintained that Tinubu’s absence is because he is on annual leave and that Shettima is carrying the President’s full mandate. Information and National Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris said the decision was neither unusual nor a diminution of Nigeria’s diplomatic standing.

Otubanjo also argued that presidential attendance at the General Assembly should not be regarded as compulsory, saying diplomatic responsibilities can be delegated when necessary.

“It is not compulsory for a president to be at the United Nations General Assembly. What is important is representation, and this time we are represented by the number two man in the country,” he said.

He questioned the assumption that a President’s physical presence at the UNGA automatically translates into substantive diplomatic engagement, noting that some encounters between heads of government at international gatherings may be brief rather than detailed working meetings.

Otubanjo said more substantive diplomatic discussions could also take place through bilateral meetings and established diplomatic channels, pointing to the changes in official communication brought about by technology, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“COVID taught all of us how to work remotely. The President is talking to his ambassadors and talking to businessmen outside Nigeria,” he said.

His comments came amid renewed debate over Tinubu’s decision not to personally attend the UNGA for the third consecutive year. Tinubu attended the 78th UNGA in 2023, while Shettima represented him at the 79th and 80th sessions in 2024 and 2025.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the repeated delegation, arguing that although the Vice President can represent Nigeria, presidential participation provides a different level of personal authority and visibility at a major diplomatic gathering. The Federal Government has rejected the criticism and maintained that Nigeria is fully represented.

The Presidency said Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for an annual working vacation in Europe, beginning in London before travelling to Paris, where he held engagements with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bollore. On September 21, the Presidency announced that the President had extended his working vacation by a few days and would return to Nigeria at the weekend.

Beyond the UNGA controversy, Otubanjo said Nigeria’s international image was closely connected to its domestic governance, arguing that the way the country is governed at home affects how it is perceived internationally.

“A nation’s domestic image determines its international image,” he said.

He called for greater attention to good governance, accountability, transparency and what he described as frugality in the management of public resources.

The professor also criticised what he described as misplaced government spending priorities, citing expenditures on infrastructure, an aircraft and religious pilgrimage. His comments on those expenditures were made as part of his broader argument that Nigeria’s international ambitions should be matched by stronger attention to citizens’ welfare and responsible management of public resources.

Otubanjo said Nigeria’s ambition to maintain its position as a major African power and pursue greater influence in institutions such as the African Union, ECOWAS and a reformed United Nations Security Council would require sustained diplomatic engagement as well as credible governance at home.

The 81st UNGA is being held under the theme, “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.” Nigeria is expected to use its participation to advance positions on global institutional reform, sustainable development, climate finance, international cooperation and stronger African representation in global decision-making.

For Otubanjo, however, the immediate issue surrounding Tinubu’s absence should be considered within the context of the President’s annual leave, the Vice President’s representation and the nature of diplomatic practice.

He maintained that the effectiveness of Nigeria’s participation should ultimately be assessed by what the country seeks to achieve at the global gathering and how its national interests are advanced.