Why Tinubu no go attend UN General Assembly for di US and wetin e mean for Nigeria?

Di weekend, Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima announce say President Bola Tinubu don direct am to lead di kontri delegation to di 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Di UNGA plenary dey scheduled to hold from 22 to 28 September 2026 for New York City, USA.

Di absence of President Tinubu don raise kwesions among opposition parties and Nigerians as to why e no go attend di General Assembly for di third time.

Tinubu neva go UNGA since di last time wey e go for 2023 - di president no attend 2024, 2025 and now di 2026 UNGA as e dey always send im vice Kashim Shettima to represent am.

Some believe say di decision of Tinubu to miss di UN General Assembly three times fit affect Nigeria relationship wit oda kontris of di world.

UNGA dey considered as one of di most important gathering wia leaders of kontris go discuss issues wey relate to security, trade, and development, as well as to seek investment and cooperation wit oda kontris.

For one statement, former Nigerian Vice President wey also be one of Tinubu major opposition for 2027 election Atiku Abubakar allege say na di old "asset forfeiture" case wey di US govment dey do ova "some funds linked to Tinubu for di 1990s" fit be di reason why di President dey run away from di US.

Meanwhile, Nigerian Vice President Shettima arrive for New York on Sunday night, wia Nigeria dey expected to deliva speech on Thursday but di big kwesion na why President Tinubu no go.

Why Tinubu no attend UN General Assembly?

According to di Presidency, dem say President Bola Tinubu no go attend di 81st UNGA in pesin, as e still dey on im annual leave for France.

Di Nigerian Ambassador to di United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, say di absence of di Nigerians President no mean say Nigeria no go dey represented for di meeting.

E say di kontri delegation go continue to participate for all sessions wey go hold.

Di Special Assistant to di President on Foreign Affairs, Ademola Osodi, also say Tinubu absence from UNGA no go affect Nigeria diplomatic influence or leadership for Africa.

Speaking on local media Channels TV program, di aide say di president dey focus on important domestic issues, especially di economy and security.

"E get important economic and security issues wey di president dey focus on at home," Osodi say.

E say Tinubu presence or absence for UNGA no go change Nigeria position as one of di leading kontris for Africa.

Wetin Tinubu absence mean for Nigeria?

Diplomatic sabi pipo for Nigeria don begin dey comment on di opportunities wey di kontri go miss sake of say President Tinubu dey miss from di third consecutive UN General Assembly.

Sabi pipo believe say dis fit stop Nigeria from some opportunities, especially to meet wit leaders of oda kontris so as to improve relations.

Ambassador Aminu Iyawa, former Nigerian ambassador to Mexico, say any leader wey sabi di importance of attending dis event no go refuse to attend in pesin unless e get betta reason.

"Many pipo tink say dis speeches wey heads of state dey make for UNGA na di most important, but dat no be di case,".

E say e get meetings wey leaders hold on di sidelines of di summit, wey dey mostly dey beneficial for any kontri in need, especially developing kontris like Nigeria.

Di sabi pesin say 'Nigeria don lose a lot" due to di absence of President Tinubu for di last three meetings.'

According to di former ambassador, leaders prefer to meet wit dia counterparts to make decisions and take immediate action, wey representative no fit do.

Ambassador Iyawa say Nigeria fit use dis opportunity to seek debt relief from di World Bank and di IMF, wey get interests for developed kontris such as di United States, India, France and China.

E say dem fit no look di demands wey Vice President Shettima go make but if Tinubu go, e go fit ask for some debts relief.

"Any leader wey want im kontri to develop go go... be like President Tinubu no take dis meeting seriously," e say.

Apart from di issue of debt relief wey Nigeria fit seek relief from, Ambassador Iyawa say oda great opportunity dey for Nigeria.

E say as a result of di kontri constant search for investors to enta di kontri for area of oil, gold and oda minerals, Nigeria no go fit attract international attention if di president no dey dat kain UN setting by imsef.

"If e no tok to dem, e no go get any impact... If you want make your kontri develop, to gain respect, speak up, and yu gatz dey," say Ambassador Iyawa.

Na true say Tinubu no fit enta US?

Di Presidency don dismiss allegations say President Tinubu failure to attend di United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for di third consecutive time dey linked to travel ban imposed on am by di United States.

Ademola Osodi, one of Tinubu aide say dat accusation dey political, saying.

"No problem or sanction watsoeva."

Osodi say e bin follow Tinubu to di US during di 2023 United Nations General Assembly, and rememba dia trip to Los Angeles bifor e go Yokohama, Japan.

According to am, dat trips show say di president fit enta United States witout any problems.

"We go to America and I dey wit am. Dis na just political statement, e dey only repeated becos we dey election season," Osodi say.

Nigeria Ambassador to di United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, say Nigeria go kontinue to retain special seat and status for UNGA, even though Vice President Shettima go represent President Tinubu.

E say n oting dey new say kontri dey send high-ranking officials to represent dem for di United Nations meetings.