The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, Ademola Osodi, has rejected claims that the President has strained relations with the United States, following renewed attention on Tinubu’s third consecutive absence from the United Nations General Assembly.
Osodi made the remarks while appearing on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme.
He described the suggestion of a rift with the US as an “old chestnut”, maintaining that Tinubu has visited the country on several previous occasions.
“I was with the President when he went to the United Nations; physically I was there, you saw it on social media. He went to the stock exchange, he rang the bell, he had meetings on the side. Even in more recent times, I think last year, we transited Los Angeles on our way to Japan for the Japanese Development Agency,” Osodi said.
He further recalled that Tinubu had recently passed through Los Angeles en route to Japan, noting that the President spent a few days in the US before proceeding on his trip.
“We were in Los Angeles for few days before we flew to Yokohama, Japan. We were in America, I was there with them. So it is politics, we can talk about this every single election cycle, it is just politics,” he said.
Osodi’s comments come against the backdrop of criticism directed at Tinubu over his decision to miss the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York for the third year running.
The Presidency had earlier announced that Vice President Kashim Shettima would represent Tinubu and lead Nigeria’s delegation to the UNGA.
Defending the President’s absence, Osodi said Tinubu remained focused on domestic priorities, including the economy and security, adding that Nigeria’s standing on the international stage would not be diminished as a result.
“Nigeria has a diverse interest in all regional groups, continental groups and even groups of the South-South like the BRICS. So, the United Nations is not the only group that we are member of,” he said.
“With or without his presence there will not change Nigeria’s role as giant of Africa, the leader of the economic resurgence of Africa,” Osodi added.
The presidential aide also stated that Nigeria would be well represented at the UNGA through the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim.
However, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for an explanation over Tinubu’s third consecutive absence from the assembly.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the UNGA as an important platform through which world leaders advance their countries’ diplomatic and economic interests.
“Vice President Shettima may represent Nigeria capably, but representation by delegation cannot permanently substitute for the personal authority, visibility and responsibility of the President,” Atiku said.
He also questioned why Tinubu would skip the gathering after Jimoh Ibrahim reportedly disclosed that arrangements had been made for the President to sit close to US President Donald Trump.
“The seat was secured, but the President disappeared,” Atiku said.
