Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, has explained why Vice President Kashim Shettima was not seated near United States President Donald Trump during the 81st United Nations General Assembly, despite his earlier assurance that Nigeria would occupy a prominent position close to the US leader.
Ibrahim said Nigeria nonetheless secured the sixth position in the front row of the General Assembly chamber, describing the placement as an important diplomatic accomplishment.
The Nigerian envoy made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, where he also defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision not to attend the UNGA in New York and instead designate Shettima to lead the Nigerian delegation.
Ibrahim had previously said he had secured a seat close to Trump for Tinubu at the General Assembly. However, with Tinubu absent from the meeting, Shettima represented the President and delivered Nigeria’s national statement.
Explaining why Shettima was not seated beside Trump, Ibrahim said the US president did not remain in the General Assembly chamber after delivering his address, meaning there was no designated seat beside him where Shettima could have been placed.
“You have to thank me and commend my effort. I said Nigeria will be in the front seat, was Nigeria not in the front seat? You said Nigeria will sit with Donald Trump, did Donald Trump have any seat in the General Assembly?” Ibrahim asked.
“He didn’t sit for a second, he just came in to the podium, delivered a guest speech and left from there. Did he go to sit on a seat?”
Ibrahim further argued that if Trump had remained in the chamber, the seating arrangement would have placed the US president behind the Nigerian delegation rather than in front of it.
“In fact, he would have been sitting far behind Nigeria. So, what are you talking about? I delivered on the fact that Nigeria will sit in the front row, number six,” he said.
The envoy also sought to underscore the significance of Nigeria occupying the sixth position in the front row of a chamber representing all 193 United Nations member states.
“Do you think it is easy for a country to sit at number six in the front row? Don’t you know it is a country sitting at number 193 and your country is sitting at number six?” he said.
Ibrahim also defended Tinubu’s decision to remain away from New York, saying he would not have recommended the President’s attendance once it became evident that more than 60 per cent of speakers scheduled to address the General Assembly would be represented by vice presidents or foreign ministers.
He maintained that it would have been difficult to justify the President leaving other pressing national responsibilities to travel to New York for an address lasting approximately 15 minutes, particularly when several countries had delegated senior officials to represent their heads of government.
The Nigerian representative also pointed to the absence of the presidents of South Africa, China and Russia, among other world leaders, as evidence that Nigeria’s decision was not unusual. He said Shettima’s presence ensured that the country was adequately represented at the high-level meeting.
Ibrahim added that Tinubu would address the United Nations General Assembly at an appropriate time, while insisting that the President’s absence from the current session had not weakened Nigeria’s diplomatic position.
His comments followed renewed public debate over Tinubu’s prolonged four-week stay in Europe and his decision not to attend the UNGA in person.
African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and other opposition figures had criticised the President’s extended absence from the country and raised questions concerning the application of Section 145 of the Nigerian Constitution.
Atiku, in particular, questioned whether Tinubu had submitted a written declaration to the leadership of the National Assembly transferring presidential responsibilities to Shettima while he was away from Nigeria.
Ibrahim rejected the concerns, maintaining that Tinubu had not breached any constitutional provision.
“The president hasn’t committed any offence. Did he breach any provision of the Constitution?” he said.
He distinguished between a working leave and an absolute leave, explaining that an individual could remain on official duty while taking time away from regular responsibilities. Ibrahim cited his own situation, noting that he was also seeking leave after resuming his responsibilities as chairman of the UN budget.
“Human beings are not machines,” Ibrahim said.
