Chieftain of African Democratic Congress(ADC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has lashed out at President Bola Tinubu over his decision not to attend the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
Chief Eze said the development is worrisome and has raised serious concern for Nigeria’s international visibility and diplomatic engagement.
In a statement on Monday, Chief Eze, reasoned that it has become increasingly difficult to come to term why the President Tinubu decided to stay away from UNGA for three consecutive years.
The ADC stalwart noted that President Tinubu did not attend the 79th UNGA in 2024, the 80th in 2025, and presently the 2026 edition, adding that it was Vice President Kashim Shettima, that has represented Nigeria on all occasions.
“Since 2024, 2025 and now 2026, President Tinubu has systematically avoided attending the United Nations General Assembly. This is a huge dent and national embarrassment on Nigeria’s international image.
“Honestly, I want to believe that Tinubu has continued to keep away from UNGA for fear of the unknown. He is afraid of his own shadow. But must he run Nigeria as a personal estate?
“President Tinubu’s continuous non-attendance has denied Nigeria the benefits that accrue from the personal presence of a sitting President at such an important gathering of world leaders” Chief Eze stated.
The ADC chieftain questioned what, in his view, could be responsible for the President’s repeated absence from one of the world’s most important diplomatic meetings.
“For months, the Tinubu administration has spent enormous political and financial capital trying to repair its standing in Washington.
“The Federal Government entered into a $9million lobbying arrangement aimed partly at countering damaging narratives about Nigeria, while senior officials, including the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, were allegedly deployed for sustained engagements with the United States.
“The government also advertised a proposed Nigeria-US mining agreement expected to be advanced around UNGA, Eze stated.
Eze, therefore challenged the Presidency to provide Nigerians with an acceptable explanation for President Tinubu’s decision to remain away from UNGA holding in New York.
“What is it that is frightening President Tinubu from attending the gathering of Presidents and world leaders?
“Nigeria cannot afford to have a President who appears reluctant to personally engage with his counterparts at a major international diplomatic forum.
“The United Nations General Assembly provides Nigeria with an important platform to advance its national interests, attract investment, strengthen bilateral relations and project the country’s voice on global issues” Eze noted.
However, Chief Eze also linked his concerns to the protracted controversy surrounding U.S. law-enforcement records relating to historical investigations involving President Tinubu over alleged drug deals.
Recall that recent U.S. court proceedings have involved requests for the release of FBI and DEA records under the Freedom of Information Act.
But Tinubu’s legal team has vehemently opposed the release of some records, based on privacy and other legal grounds.
However, the Presidency has repeatedly insisted that the matter is a civil FOIA records-disclosure dispute, not a criminal trial, and that no U.S. court has found President Tinubu guilty of criminal wrongdoing.
Nevertheless, Eze argued that the controversy raises legitimate questions about Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement with the United States.
“Nigerians are entitled to ask questions. After the enormous diplomatic and public-relations efforts directed at improving Nigeria’s relationship and image in Washington, why is the President not physically present at UNGA?
“What happened between the expectations surrounding Nigeria’s international engagements and the President’s decision to remain away, the ADC Chieftain querried.
Eze, therefore called on the Presidency to provide Nigerians with clear information rather than allowing speculation to dominate public discussion.
In addition, Eze expressed dismay over the way Tinubu has continued to belittle the prestigious office of the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“When other notable world leaders were converging in New York, President Tinubu was busy seeking attention from President Emmanuel Macron of France, Eze said.
After receiving President Tinubu at the Élysée Palace for a private dinner in Paris on September 18, Eze noted that Macron subsequently travelled to New York for the 81st UN General Assembly, where he has been participating in high-level engagements.
“It is instructive that President Emmanuel Macron, who received President Tinubu in France, subsequently left France for New York to participate in the United Nations General Assembly.
“This is an affront on President Tinubu, and by extension, Nigeria.
“While Macron hurriedly travelled to UNGA 2026, President Tinubu stayed away for obvious reasons.
“Nigerians deserve to know the reason behind this unusual diplomatic posture, Eze stated.
It was Eze’s contention that Nigeria’s participation in international diplomacy should go beyond delegation and ceremonial representation.
He stressed the importance of direct presidential engagement where appropriate, with reference to UNGA
“Nigeria is a major African country with enormous economic, political and strategic interests.
“Our President should be seen engaging directly with world leaders and advancing Nigeria’s interests, and not shying away when his physical presence at matters most.
“No doubt, the Vice President is constitutionally capable of representing the President, but for Tinubu to repeatedly absent himself at UNGA, means he is afraid of something.
“This repeated absence of President Tinubu, naturally raises questions about the level of visibility and seriousness Nigeria seeks at the highest diplomatic forum.m, Eze said.
Without mincing words, the ADC Chieftain urged the Presidency to explain the circumstances surrounding Tinubu’s continued absence and to reassure Nigerians that the country’s international interests are being fully protected.
“The issue is not about personalities. It is about Nigeria’s image, Nigeria’s interests and Nigeria’s place in the international community. I repeat, it is not about what, when and where Tinubu wants to be. Nigeria is not his personal estate.
“Nigerians deserve transparency, accountability and clear explanations. The Presidency should tell Nigerians why the President has stayed away from UNGA for three consecutive years, Eze stated.
“After the millions spent on lobbying, the diplomatic ground-softening and the public boasting about deals supposedly ready for signature, why is President Tinubu reportedly staying away from UNGA?
“What happened between the celebration and the cancellation?
“Were the meetings the Presidency expected in New York and Washington actually secured?
“Is the much-advertised mining arrangement proceeding as announced?
“And, most importantly, has the controversy surrounding the outstanding US law-enforcement records particularly the ones linking the President to alleged heroin trafficking become an obstacle to the kind of high-level political embrace the Tinubu administration desperately wants from Washington?
Most Importantly, can Nigeria vote in such a leader who is afraid of his shadow come 2027? May God save us all
These and more are questions the ADC chieftain wants Tinubu and his boys to answer.
