In apparent reaction to the disquiet in the camp of the “owners of Nigeria”, President Bola Tinubu has decided to skip the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), opting to focus on Nigeria’s pressing domestic challenges.
President Tinubu who has been on a junket, visiting country capitals in Europe, Asia and North America while the country literally burns, says the current decision to cool heels at home is in deference to the gigant Maiduguri flood that has taken over 30 lives and affecting over a million people.
Irked by the apparent indifference of President Tinubu to the suffering of Nigerians due his economic policies, some former military rulers and strategic generals, so-called ‘owners of Nigeria,’ gathered in Minna at the hilltop home of former President Ibrahim Babangida to sketch an alternative to a second term of President Tinubu.
A statement issued on Thursday by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, which disclosed President Tinubu’s decision, also said Vice President Kashim Shettima will lead Nigeria’s delegation in his place
The President’s move is seen as a prioritization of local concerns over international diplomacy, as President Tinubu aims to address the immediate needs of Nigerians affected by the floods.
The UNGA, scheduled to take place from September 24 to 28, 2024, will feature discussions on sustainable development, peace, and human dignity.
VP Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend key sideline events, and engage in bilateral meetings, ensuring the country’s interests are represented on the global stage.
“President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly session in New York this year.
“The President has thus directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation.
“President Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trip to China and the United Kingdom, wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding.
“At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings.
“The high-level General Debate, with the theme ‘Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations’, will run from Tuesday, September 24, through Saturday, September 28, 2024”, the statement said.
