A former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof. Bola Akinterinwa, has suggested that President Bola Tinubu’s decision to stay away from the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York might not be coincidental but a deliberate strategy.
Speaking on The Morning Brief, a Channels Television programme on Friday, Akinterinwa argued that Tinubu’s absence could be linked to concerns over potential confrontations with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to him, Trump’s unpredictable style and tendency to make provocative remarks could have put Nigeria’s leader in an uncomfortable situation.
“Tinubu’s absence may be strategic because Trump is capable of embarrassing him unnecessarily. Trump acts impulsively and could create needless controversy, especially as Nigeria appears to be taking an independent approach in managing international relations—a posture Trump dislikes,” Akinterinwa said.
He noted that this is the second time Tinubu has missed the high-profile global summit and questioned the implications of his absence.
“The real question is: does this mean the President is avoiding the Assembly? Ideally, he should be present,” the foreign policy expert added.
