Tinubu UNGA absence draws criticism from Kenneth Okonkwo, who links the decision to US concerns, while the Presidency says Tinubu is on leave
Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, alleging that the decision raises questions about the President’s relationship with the United States.
Also read: US Firm Issues Strong Warning Over Tinubu’s 2027 Poll
Okonkwo made the claim while speaking on Arise News on Wednesday, noting that Tinubu has not personally attended the UNGA since 2023.
Vice President Kashim Shettima is representing Nigeria at this year’s General Assembly after Tinubu mandated him to lead the country’s delegation and deliver Nigeria’s national statement. The Presidency has said Tinubu is currently on annual leave.
Okonkwo argued that Tinubu should have attended the high-level diplomatic gathering in person, particularly given the importance of Nigeria’s relationship with the United States.
“He ought to be at the UNGA in person; he hasn’t been there for three consecutive years. A reasonable man should say he is hiding from the United States of America,” Okonkwo said.
The opposition spokesman also linked Tinubu’s absence to what he described as the “Venezuela option”, suggesting that concerns surrounding the President’s historical legal records in the United States may have influenced the decision.
Okonkwo did not provide evidence establishing a connection between Tinubu’s absence from the UNGA and any possible US action against the Nigerian President.
The allegation comes amid renewed political discussion over Tinubu’s US legal history, including a long-standing matter involving the forfeiture of about $460,000 in the United States.
The Presidency has rejected attempts to portray that matter as an ongoing criminal case against Tinubu.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said the current issue concerns access to historical US records under the Freedom of Information Act and does not amount to a criminal proceeding against the President.
Tinubu attended the 78th UN General Assembly in 2023. Shettima represented him at the 79th session in 2024 and again at the 80th session in 2025.
The Vice President is now leading Nigeria’s delegation for a third consecutive year.
The Federal Government has defended the arrangement, saying Nigeria remains fully represented at the gathering.
The Federal Ministry of Information said Shettima would deliver Nigeria’s national statement and participate in high-level meetings and bilateral engagements with world leaders, international organisations and development partners.
Presidential aide Ademola Osodi also said Tinubu’s absence would not diminish Nigeria’s diplomatic standing or its role in African affairs.
The Presidency has maintained that the President’s decision to remain away from New York is unrelated to any restriction on his ability to travel to the United States.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had earlier questioned Tinubu’s decision to miss the UNGA for a third consecutive year, asking the Presidency to explain the repeated absence.
Atiku stopped short of claiming that Tinubu was legally barred from entering the United States.
Okonkwo also addressed a separate controversy involving a historical financial transaction linked to Atiku.
Defending his principal, Okonkwo said a $1.7 million transfer to Atiku’s wife in 2002 was intended for her upkeep and was unrelated to criminal activity.
He further argued that Atiku was not a party to the contract at the centre of the controversy.
“The money transferred was for the upkeep of his wife. Atiku was not invited because he was not a party to the contract,” Okonkwo said.
The exchange adds to the increasingly charged political debate surrounding Tinubu’s international engagements as political parties and opposition groups begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general election.
Also read: US Firm Issues Strong Warning Over Tinubu’s 2027 Poll
For now, the reason for Tinubu’s absence has been publicly stated by the Presidency as annual leave, while Okonkwo’s suggestion that US concerns are behind the decision remains an allegation rather than an established fact.
