Obidient Movement questions Tinubu’s absence from UNGA81, demands explanation

Politics

Obidient Movement questions Tinubu’s absence from UNGA81, demands explanation

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Obidient Movement has questioned President Bola Tinubu’s decision not to personally attend the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) in New York and called on the Presidency to explain the circumstances surrounding his absence.

The political pressure group, which is aligned with the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, made the demand in a statement issued on Monday, September 21, 2026, and signed by its Media and Communications Directorate.

The group said the President’s absence raised questions, particularly because the Presidency had earlier indicated that Tinubu would attend the General Assembly.

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The Presidency has said Tinubu is currently on a working vacation and extended his stay abroad by a few days. It said he departed Nigeria on August 30, spent a week in London before moving to Paris, where he met French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.

The Federal Government has also said there was no restriction preventing Tinubu from travelling to the United States and that Vice-President Kashim Shettima had been mandated to lead Nigeria’s delegation and deliver the country’s national statement at UNGA81.

The Obidient Movement, however, questioned why Tinubu could undertake engagements in France but would not personally represent Nigeria at the UN General Assembly.

“Even though we know he is prone to disgracing the country through his endless embarrassing gibberish at such an important global forum, his consistent absence over the last three years only suggests that Nigeria does not take such an opportunity seriously,” the group said.

The movement argued that the UN General Assembly provides Nigeria with an opportunity to present its interests to the international community, engage world leaders and participate directly in discussions on issues affecting the country, Africa and the wider world.

It also noted that French President Emmanuel Macron was attending the General Assembly in New York, while Tinubu remained abroad.

The group raised several questions over the President’s decision, including why he changed earlier plans to attend, why he was available for engagements in France but not the UN gathering, and what domestic priorities required his continued absence.

The group also questioned whether concerns surrounding Tinubu’s historical legal proceedings in the United States had influenced his decision not to attend.

It referred to a 1993 U.S. civil forfeiture proceeding involving funds held in an account in Tinubu’s name. Court records show that $460,000 was ultimately forfeited to the United States under a decree relating to funds described in the proceeding as proceeds of narcotics trafficking or financial transactions in violation of U.S. law. The case was a civil forfeiture proceeding, not a criminal conviction of Tinubu.

The Obidient Movement said the history continued to generate public debate and argued that political leaders should be subject to transparency and accountability.

“Whatever position one takes on that history, the broader question is unavoidable: what message does Nigeria send to its young people when people like Tinubu with a long history of crime end up attaining the highest political office in the country?” the group said.

The group called for greater transparency from the Presidency, including clarification of Tinubu’s travel plans and official engagements.

It also demanded an explanation for what it described as the President’s continued absence from the UN General Assembly for three consecutive years.

Tinubu attended the 78th UN General Assembly in New York in 2023 but was represented by Shettima at the 79th and 80th sessions in 2024 and 2025. Shettima is representing Nigeria again at the 81st session and is expected to deliver the country’s national statement.

The Obidient Movement said transparency was particularly important ahead of the 2027 general elections, arguing that Nigerians deserved clear explanations from those occupying the country’s highest offices.

The Presidency, meanwhile, has maintained that Tinubu’s absence does not diminish Nigeria’s diplomatic standing and that Shettima has the President’s full mandate to represent the country at the General Assembly.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Obidient Movement has questioned President Bola Tinubu’s decision not to personally attend the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) in New York and called on the Presidency to explain the circumstances surrounding his absence.

The political pressure group, which is aligned with the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, made the demand in a statement issued on Monday, September 21, 2026, and signed by its Media and Communications Directorate.

The group said the President’s absence raised questions, particularly because the Presidency had earlier indicated that Tinubu would attend the General Assembly.

The Presidency has said Tinubu is currently on a working vacation and extended his stay abroad by a few days. It said he departed Nigeria on August 30, spent a week in London before moving to Paris, where he met French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.

The Federal Government has also said there was no restriction preventing Tinubu from travelling to the United States and that Vice-President Kashim Shettima had been mandated to lead Nigeria’s delegation and deliver the country’s national statement at UNGA81.

The Obidient Movement, however, questioned why Tinubu could undertake engagements in France but would not personally represent Nigeria at the UN General Assembly.

“Even though we know he is prone to disgracing the country through his endless embarrassing gibberish at such an important global forum, his consistent absence over the last three years only suggests that Nigeria does not take such an opportunity seriously,” the group said.

The movement argued that the UN General Assembly provides Nigeria with an opportunity to present its interests to the international community, engage world leaders and participate directly in discussions on issues affecting the country, Africa and the wider world.

It also noted that French President Emmanuel Macron was attending the General Assembly in New York, while Tinubu remained abroad.

The group raised several questions over the President’s decision, including why he changed earlier plans to attend, why he was available for engagements in France but not the UN gathering, and what domestic priorities required his continued absence.

The group also questioned whether concerns surrounding Tinubu’s historical legal proceedings in the United States had influenced his decision not to attend.

It referred to a 1993 U.S. civil forfeiture proceeding involving funds held in an account in Tinubu’s name. Court records show that $460,000 was ultimately forfeited to the United States under a decree relating to funds described in the proceeding as proceeds of narcotics trafficking or financial transactions in violation of U.S. law. The case was a civil forfeiture proceeding, not a criminal conviction of Tinubu.

The Obidient Movement said the history continued to generate public debate and argued that political leaders should be subject to transparency and accountability.

“Whatever position one takes on that history, the broader question is unavoidable: what message does Nigeria send to its young people when people like Tinubu with a long history of crime end up attaining the highest political office in the country?” the group said.

The group called for greater transparency from the Presidency, including clarification of Tinubu’s travel plans and official engagements.

It also demanded an explanation for what it described as the President’s continued absence from the UN General Assembly for three consecutive years.

Tinubu attended the 78th UN General Assembly in New York in 2023 but was represented by Shettima at the 79th and 80th sessions in 2024 and 2025. Shettima is representing Nigeria again at the 81st session and is expected to deliver the country’s national statement.

The Obidient Movement said transparency was particularly important ahead of the 2027 general elections, arguing that Nigerians deserved clear explanations from those occupying the country’s highest offices.

The Presidency, meanwhile, has maintained that Tinubu’s absence does not diminish Nigeria’s diplomatic standing and that Shettima has the President’s full mandate to represent the country at the General Assembly.