By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has expressed concern over President Bola Tinubu’s absence from the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, accusing the administration of undermining Nigeria’s diplomatic interests and constitutional requirements.
In a statement released on Monday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, described the President’s absence from the global gathering as disappointing and alleged that it represented a recurring pattern since his assumption of office in 2023.
The NDC said it was particularly concerned that Vice President Kashim Shettima was mandated to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the UNGA, rather than the President attending personally.
However, the Presidency had earlier said Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for a working vacation and that he continued to direct affairs of government while away. It also confirmed that Shettima was representing him at the UNGA and would deliver Nigeria’s national statement.
The party also raised questions over the application of Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that when the President proceeds on vacation or is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office, he shall transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives.
According to the NDC, Tinubu’s departure from Nigeria on August 30 and subsequent stay in Europe warranted greater clarity concerning the formal transfer of presidential functions.
It alleged that Nigeria was at some point left without the President, Vice President and Senate President physically in the country, describing the situation as a “governance vacuum.”
The opposition party further criticised the President’s absence from UNGA, arguing that the annual gathering offered opportunities for heads of government to engage directly with their counterparts on foreign investment, debt relief, climate finance, security cooperation and other strategic issues.
The NDC claimed that Nigeria could lose diplomatic and economic opportunities when presidential-level engagements were delegated, including direct foreign investment discussions, strategic security partnerships and negotiations on global financial reforms.
The party also contrasted Nigeria’s representation with Ghana’s participation at the UNGA, saying Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama used the platform to articulate his country’s positions on issues including debt justice, climate reparations and multilateralism.
The NDC criticised comments attributed to Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, regarding the limited duration of a presidential address at the UNGA.
According to the party, the significance of the UNGA extends beyond the formal speech delivered by heads of state to the extensive diplomatic engagements held on the margins of the gathering.
The NDC subsequently demanded what it described as:
Full disclosure of the President’s whereabouts and health status;
Compliance with Section 145 of the Constitution whenever the President proceeds on vacation or is otherwise unable to perform his functions; and
An end to what it described as an “imperial presidency” that treats accountability as an afterthought.
The party said Nigeria, with more than 200 million people, deserved a president who was physically present and accountable.
Meanwhile, the Presidency had stated that Tinubu extended his working vacation by a few days after leaving Nigeria on August 30. It said he moved from London to Paris, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré, while continuing to direct affairs of government from abroad.
