Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, has explained why Vice President Kashim Shettima did not sit close to United States President Donald Trump during the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
Ibrahim had earlier indicated that Nigeria would occupy a prominent position close to the US president during the General Assembly. However, President Bola Tinubu did not attend the gathering, with Shettima leading Nigeria’s delegation and delivering the country’s national statement.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ibrahim explained that Trump did not remain seated in the General Assembly chamber after delivering his address.
According to the Nigerian envoy, Trump entered the chamber to deliver his speech and subsequently left, meaning there was no opportunity for Shettima to sit alongside the US president during the session.
Ibrahim said Nigeria nevertheless secured the sixth position in the front row of the General Assembly chamber, describing the placement as significant given the number of countries represented at the United Nations.
He maintained that the seating arrangement should be considered in the context of the formal proceedings of the General Assembly and Trump’s brief appearance in the chamber.
The ambassador said his earlier assurance concerned Nigeria securing a prominent position at the UNGA, arguing that the country achieved that objective despite Tinubu’s absence.
Shettima represented the President at the 81st UNGA, where he delivered Nigeria’s national statement and participated in several high-level meetings and bilateral engagements.
The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation had earlier said Shettima would use the General Assembly to present Nigeria’s position on issues including global peace and security, economic development, multilateral cooperation and reforms to international institutions.
Ibrahim also defended Tinubu’s decision not to travel to New York for the General Assembly.
He said he would not have advised the President to attend after observing that more than 60 per cent of those scheduled to speak at the gathering were being represented by vice presidents or foreign ministers.
The envoy argued that Shettima’s presence ensured Nigeria was represented at the appropriate level, while the President could attend to other matters.
Ibrahim further noted that the leaders of several major countries were also not present at the General Assembly, citing countries including South Africa, China and Russia.
The issue has generated public discussion because Ibrahim had earlier said he had secured a position close to Trump for Tinubu at the UNGA.
With Shettima representing the President, questions were subsequently raised about whether Nigeria retained the position earlier described by the ambassador.
Ibrahim responded that the seating arrangement remained favourable to Nigeria because the country occupied a front-row position, while Trump did not remain in the chamber after delivering his address.
The debate comes amid broader discussions over Tinubu’s absence from the UNGA and his extended stay in Europe.
Opposition figures, including African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, have questioned aspects of the President’s absence and raised constitutional questions concerning the transfer of presidential functions.
Ibrahim rejected the suggestion that Tinubu’s absence amounted to a constitutional violation, arguing that the President’s situation should be distinguished from an absolute leave of absence.
Meanwhile, Shettima’s participation at the UNGA provided Nigeria with representation at the high-level diplomatic gathering, where he held engagements with international leaders and institutions.
The 81st UNGA has therefore remained a major focus of political and diplomatic discussions in Nigeria, particularly regarding the country’s representation and its engagement with global partners.
Ibrahim maintained that Nigeria’s diplomatic standing was not diminished by Tinubu’s absence, stressing that the country was adequately represented at the General Assembly.
