Former Senate President Pius Anyim has said President Bola Tinubu’s absence from the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York should not be a cause for concern.
Anyim, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said Tinubu’s decision to delegate the assignment to Vice President Kashim Shettima was within the President’s authority.
He made the remarks on Monday while featuring on ARISE NEWS’ Prime Time.
Tinubu, who was initially expected to return to Nigeria after a short working vacation, extended his stay abroad, with the Presidency saying he would use the period for a private visit and other engagements before his return.
Reacting to concerns over his absence from the UNGA, Anyim said the Vice President was capable of representing Nigeria at the gathering.
“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. He simply assigned his Vice President to undertake the assignment. I don’t know why we are making so much out of this,” Anyim said.
He explained that the UNGA involves the General Assembly as well as several bilateral and multilateral meetings held on the sidelines, noting that the country’s statement at the assembly could be delivered by the Vice President.
According to him, Tinubu’s absence would only become significant if there were specific engagements that required his personal attendance.
Anyim also dismissed concerns that Tinubu’s absence could affect a possible meeting with United States President Donald Trump, saying such high-level diplomatic engagements are usually arranged in advance.
“It’s not about meeting the President by chance. The fact that you sit together with the President doesn’t mean anything. The President of America normally would have a schedule set ahead of time,” he said.
The former Senate President added that Tinubu was not the only world leader who had chosen not to attend the annual UN gathering in person.
“It doesn’t matter. After all, there are many heads of state who don’t go,” Anyim said