UNGA: ‘Tinubu hiding to avoid arrest by Trump’ — Atiku’s campaign
Tinubu’s Absence from UN General Assembly Sparks Controversy
Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign, has accused President Bola Tinubu of avoiding the United States due to fears of potential arrest by former President Donald Trump. Okonkwo made these claims during an appearance on Arise News’ Prime Time program, where Nigeria is currently represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
Okonkwo questioned Tinubu’s absence from the annual gathering, suggesting it was a deliberate choice tied to increasing scrutiny over historical drug-related allegations and legal matters involving the president. “Tinubu is hiding. He is running away from being arrested by Trump,” Okonkwo stated.
He emphasized that Tinubu has not attended the UNGA for three consecutive years, raising further questions about the president’s decision to stay away. “A reasonable man should say that he is hiding from the United States of America,” Okonkwo added.
The former Labour Party official referenced earlier remarks from Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, who had indicated that Tinubu would attend the assembly and sit in proximity to Trump. “What happened? Lies. The president did not go,” Okonkwo said.
Further commenting on Tinubu’s absence, Okonkwo linked it to ongoing discussions about historical US records related to a civil forfeiture case connected to the president from 1993. “Now, how come there is a paper filed by your president that he does not want his file to be released in the United States?” he questioned, alluding to allegations of drug-related activity.
The legal matter pertains to access to US government records under the Freedom of Information Act. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga clarified that this dispute is a civil matter regarding record disclosure, asserting that it is not a criminal case and that no court has found Tinubu guilty of any wrongdoing.
While there have been claims that Tinubu could face arrest if he traveled to the US for the UNGA, Ambassador Ibrahim stated in September that the Nigerian Mission in New York had received no indication from the US government regarding any restrictions on the president’s movement. He also noted that representatives from member states attending official UN activities are afforded protections under the 1947 UN US Headquarters Agreement.
The Presidency has stated that Tinubu’s absence at the UNGA is due to an extended working vacation, during which he continues to manage government affairs remotely. The State House confirmed that Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30, subsequently traveling to Paris to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron and other officials. Shettima was delegated to represent Tinubu at the UNGA.
Despite attending the 78th UNGA in 2023, shettima represented the president in 2024 and 2025. Okonkwo asserted that Tinubu’s repeated absences warrant scrutiny of his avoidance of the United States. “Every reasonable man will say he is running away from the United States of America,” he concluded.
