Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has demanded an explanation from President Bola Tinubu over his decision to miss the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for the third consecutive year, questioning whether issues surrounding the President’s history with United States authorities have affected Nigeria’s international engagements.

Atiku, in a statement issued on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said Tinubu was absent from the 79th UNGA in 2024 and the 80th in 2025, while Vice President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria on both occasions.

The Presidency announced on Sunday that Tinubu had again mandated Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st UNGA in New York. The Nigerian mission to the UN said the country would remain fully represented, stressing that it was not unusual for presidents to delegate representation to vice presidents or foreign ministers.

Atiku Abubakar argued that the three consecutive absences had become a pattern that required an explanation.

“The United Nations General Assembly is one of the world’s most important diplomatic gatherings. It brings together the representatives of the UN’s 193 member states and provides a unique platform for presidents and prime ministers to defend their countries’ interests, negotiate partnerships and shape global decisions on trade, security and development,” he said.

Atiku acknowledged that Shettima could represent Nigeria but argued that repeated delegation could not substitute for the President’s personal participation in high-level diplomacy.

He said UNGA provided opportunities for leaders to hold bilateral meetings, pursue investment and trade partnerships, mobilise development financing and promote their countries’ interests.

“When a President makes himself absent from that stage for three consecutive years, his country loses opportunities,” Atiku said.

He also questioned the earlier announcement by Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, that arrangements had been made for Tinubu to attend the 81st UNGA and sit close to United States President Donald Trump.

Ibrahim had said in July that provisions had been made for Tinubu to sit near Trump. Following the Presidency’s announcement that Shettima would represent Tinubu, Ibrahim said Nigeria would retain its designated front-row position and continue to participate fully in the General Assembly.

Atiku asked why arrangements for the President’s attendance had been made if he ultimately had no intention of attending.

He also linked Tinubu’s absence to Nigeria’s reported $9 million contract with Washington-based DCI Group for lobbying services.

Publicly reported filings show that the Federal Government engaged DCI Group through an intermediary on a contract initially valued at $4.5 million for six months, with a renewal that could take the total value to $9 million. Reports said the engagement was intended to help Nigeria communicate its position to US policymakers, particularly on security and counter-terrorism issues.

Atiku questioned the rationale for spending millions of dollars on US lobbying while the President repeatedly stayed away from the UN gathering in New York.

He further raised questions about Tinubu’s past legal proceedings in the United States, referring to a 1993 forfeiture case involving funds in accounts associated with Tinubu.

Atiku said the case had involved US government proceedings concerning funds that prosecutors alleged were connected to narcotics trafficking and money laundering, and noted that about $460,000 was ultimately forfeited to the US government.

He stressed that he was not claiming Tinubu was legally barred from entering the United States.

“We are not asserting that Tinubu is legally prohibited from entering the United States. The Presidency has announced no such restriction,” Atiku said.

“But if no legal, diplomatic, medical or personal impediment exists, why has Tinubu repeatedly avoided the UNGA since 2024?”

He asked the Presidency to state whether there was any impediment preventing the President from travelling to the United States and to explain the reason for his repeated absence from UNGA.

Atiku said Nigerians deserved clarity on whether Tinubu’s previous dealings with US authorities had any bearing on his decision not to attend the annual gathering.

“Nigeria is bigger than Bola. Our diplomatic influence, economic interests and international reputation must not be subordinated to Tinubu’s American baggage,” he said.

The former Vice President also criticised the administration’s foreign policy record and questioned whether Nigeria was making sufficient use of its position at major international forums.

He called on the Presidency to provide what he described as a clear explanation for Tinubu’s third consecutive absence from UNGA.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian mission to the UN has maintained that Nigeria would be adequately represented at the 81st session, with Kashim Shettima expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement and participate in high-level and bilateral engagements.