The Tinubu UNGA absence has drawn criticism from the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), which questioned President Bola Tinubu’s decision not to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The party said the President’s absence marked what it described as his third consecutive failure to attend the annual global gathering since he took office in 2023.
The NDC made the claim in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, on Monday.
According to the party, Nigerians had previously been told that President Tinubu would attend the UN General Assembly.
However, the Presidency announced on 20 September that Vice-President Kashim Shettima had been mandated to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the meeting.
The development prompted the NDC to question why the President would not attend the gathering.
The party also raised concerns about President Tinubu’s absence from Nigeria for more than three weeks.
It alleged that the prolonged absence had created what it called a governance vacuum.
The NDC did not provide specific examples of decisions or government functions it believed had been affected by the President’s absence.
The Tinubu UNGA absence comes as Nigeria joins other countries at the annual United Nations meeting, where world leaders and senior government officials discuss international issues and national priorities.
The UN General Assembly provides member states with a platform to address issues including security, development, climate change and international cooperation.
Vice-President Shettima is representing Nigeria at the 81st session.
Meanwhile, the NDC has continued to question the Presidency’s handling of the President’s international schedule.
The party’s criticism is based on its position that the President should have attended the gathering in person.
The Presidency’s decision to send the Vice-President means Nigeria remains represented at the UN meeting despite the President’s absence.
