Former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim has stated that President Bola Tinubu’s absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York should not be treated as an issue.
Anyim, who also served as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, made the remarks in an exclusive interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday. He noted that the President is currently on a short vacation and has properly assigned Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation.
“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,” Anyim said. “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 compels the President to be at UNGA. The Vice President can represent the country, even the Foreign Minister.”
Anyim observed that many heads of state do not attend the annual gathering in person. He added that the structure of the UNGA includes the main General Assembly session as well as bilateral and multilateral side meetings. Reading the national statement, he said, is a task the Vice President can handle effectively.
On reports that arrangements had been made for Tinubu to sit near United States President Donald Trump, Anyim dismissed the significance of such seating. “We don’t take any president by chance. The fact that you sit together with President Trump doesn’t make any difference,” he stated. “The President of America normally would have his schedule a year ahead. So, I don’t see the reason for all the fuss about the presence at UNGA and not being present at UNGA.”
The Presidency earlier confirmed that Tinubu directed Shettima to represent him at the 81st UNGA. This marks the third consecutive year the Nigerian President has not attended the session in person since assuming office.
Anyim maintained that the Vice President’s presence ensures adequate representation for Nigeria at the high-level event.