‘There’s No Need for Tinubu to Attend UNGA or Sit Beside Trump’ — Anyim
Former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to stay away from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Anyim said there was no reason to attach too much importance to the President’s absence from the gathering, insisting that Vice President Kashim Shettima was capable of representing Nigeria at the event.
He also dismissed the suggestion that Tinubu would have gained any particular advantage by sitting beside United States President Donald Trump during the General Assembly.
According to Anyim, physical proximity to the American president would not automatically result in meaningful diplomatic engagement between both leaders.
He argued that world leaders attending the UN General Assembly usually have carefully planned schedules, making it unlikely that a seating arrangement would by itself create a significant opportunity for discussion.
Anyim spoke while reacting to the growing debate over Tinubu’s absence from the annual United Nations gathering.
The President is currently on a working vacation and has delegated Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st session of the General Assembly in New York.
Shettima is expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement and participate in several high-level meetings and bilateral engagements during the UNGA week.
The Federal Government has said the Vice President is attending with the full mandate of the President and will represent Nigeria on issues including peace and security, economic development, climate action, sustainable development and international cooperation.
Speaking on Arise News, Anyim said Nigerians were already aware that Tinubu was away on leave and that constitutional responsibilities could still be carried out through the Vice President.
“I don’t understand why his absence should be an issue, but I think Nigerians are aware; they very well know that the President is on a short vacation.
“And his vice is in charge while he is away, and he simply assigns his vice to undertake the assignment. I don’t know why we are making so much out of this. Well, there is nothing that compels the President to be at UNGA. The Vice President can represent the country, even the Foreign Minister.”
The former Senate President was also asked whether Tinubu’s absence could send a negative message to Africa and the international community, particularly because this is the third consecutive UN General Assembly that the President has not personally attended.
Tinubu attended the 78th UN General Assembly in 2023. However, he did not attend the 79th session in 2024 or the 80th session in 2025. Shettima represented him at those two meetings and has again been assigned to represent him this year.
Responding to the question, Anyim drew a distinction between the main General Assembly session and the meetings held on its sidelines.
He said the major function of the General Assembly for national leaders was to present their countries’ positions, while other diplomatic opportunities could take place through separately arranged meetings.
“The structure of UNGA is the General Assembly and side meetings.
“Side meetings could be bilateral; side meetings could be a little multilateral and all that. And what is it in that General Assembly statement? It is simply to read the statement from your country. Is this something that the Vice President cannot do?
“If the President did not schedule side meetings, and it’s only to appear in the General Assembly to present a statement, I don’t know what he [Tinubu] is losing. So, except if there are side meetings that were scheduled and he is not able to attend those side meetings.”
The debate over Tinubu’s absence has intensified in recent days, with opposition questioning whether the President should have personally attended the global gathering.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has demanded an explanation for Tinubu’s decision not to attend UNGA for a third consecutive year.
Atiku argued that although the Vice President could represent the country, the President’s personal presence at a major diplomatic gathering could provide opportunities for direct engagements with other heads of government.
The Presidency, however, has rejected suggestions that Tinubu’s absence would weaken Nigeria’s diplomatic position.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said Tinubu is currently on annual leave and that the decision to send Shettima was not unusual.
The Federal Government also said Nigeria would be fully represented at the General Assembly and that Shettima had the authority to advance the country’s interests during the event.
The 81st UN General Assembly is scheduled to hold its General Debate from September 22 to September 28, 2026.
Shettima is leading a delegation that includes senior government officials and governors.
His programme is expected to include Nigeria’s national statement, high-level meetings and bilateral engagements with other countries, international organisations and development partners.
The Presidency has said the engagements will be used to pursue Nigeria’s economic diplomacy and strengthen partnerships in areas such as climate finance, sustainable development, global financial reforms, peace and security.
Anyim, however, maintained that the focus on Tinubu’s physical presence at the UNGA was being overstated.
He said attending the gathering and sitting next to another president should not be treated as an achievement in itself.
On the reported plan for Tinubu to sit beside Trump, Anyim said, “We don’t take any president by chance. The fact that you sit together with President [Trump] doesn’t make any difference.
“The President of America normally would have his schedules a year ahead. So, I don’t see the reason for all the whole fuss about the presence at UNGA and not being present at UNGA.”
The Presidency has maintained that Tinubu remains involved in the affairs of government despite his absence from the country.
It said the President had continued to receive updates and issue directives on national matters while away.
The State House also announced that Tinubu’s working vacation had been extended by a few days, with the President expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend.
According to the Presidency, Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for London before moving to Paris, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bollore.
The Presidency said Tinubu had also continued to direct government affairs from abroad, including ordering an investigation into the deaths of detainees linked to illegal mining activities in Minna, Niger State.
Meanwhile, with Tinubu away and Shettima in New York, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has continued to represent the President at some official functions in Nigeria.
