Former Senate President Pius Anyim has said President Bola Tinubu’s absence from the ongoing United Nations General Assembly in New York should not be a source of concern.
Anyim, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said Vice President Kashim Shettima had the constitutional authority to represent Nigeria at the global gathering.
He made the statement on Monday while speaking on ARISE NEWS’ Prime Time, following the Presidency’s decision for Shettima to represent Tinubu at the UN General Assembly.
Anyim explained that the UNGA consists of the General Assembly itself as well as several bilateral and multilateral meetings held on the sidelines. He said the national statement delivered during the General Debate could be presented by the Vice President or another senior government official.
According to him, Tinubu’s absence would only be significant if he had specific engagements at the gathering that required his personal attendance.
He also dismissed concerns that the President’s absence could prevent a meeting with United States President Donald Trump, noting that meetings between world leaders are generally arranged in advance rather than occurring by chance.
The former Senate president further noted that Tinubu was not the only head of state who had chosen not to attend the annual UN gathering in person, saying the Vice President’s representation was within the normal structure of international engagements.
