“There Is Nothing Wrong With Shettima Representing Nigeria At UNGA” — Reuben Abati Defends Tinubu, Says Critics Are Mischievous

Veteran journalist and Arise TV anchor, Dr. Reuben Abati, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to send Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent Nigeria at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, saying there is nothing wrong with the move.

Abati stated this on Arise TV’s The Morning Show on Wednesday while reacting to a viral video showing Vice President Shettima arriving at the UN Headquarters in a black motorcade through the streets of Manhattan to deliver Nigeria’s national statement.

“I have argued, and I would like to repeat it on this table, that there is nothing wrong with Vice President Kashim Shettima going to represent Nigeria,” Abati declared.

He said it is standard diplomatic practice globally, noting that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also did not attend this year’s UNGA in person but sent representatives.

“Some countries send foreign ministers. At this year’s UNGA, some other presidents were not there. Take President Xi Jinping, for example. He’s meeting with President Trump today in Washington, D.C. He’s not going there; he’s going to ask his Vice President to go to the General Assembly to be part of the debate. The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, is not there also,” Abati said.

According to Abati, Shettima has shown capacity to represent Nigeria articulately at global forums including BRICS in New Delhi, the African Union meeting in Angola and the World Economic Forum.

“The Vice President has represented Nigeria at similar forums, whether it was the BRICS that took place most recently in New Delhi, India, or the African Union meeting recently in Angola, or the World Economic Forum. And at all these places, he has shown a capacity to represent Nigeria very well in a very articulate and experienced manner,” he noted.

Abati explained that President Tinubu, as chief foreign policy officer, has shared responsibilities with his deputy — with Tinubu focusing on economic diplomacy and investor engagements, while Shettima handles multilateral debates.

“President Tinubu is the chief foreign policy officer of the country. It looks like they’ve shared the assignment: President Tinubu focuses on economic diplomacy. If it is a trip to meet with diplomats, with investors, most of those ones are handled by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. If it is a place to go and debate, most of those ones are handled by the Vice President,” he said.

He dismissed criticisms about optics and Nigeria’s global standing as mischievous, insisting Nigeria will not miss out.

“So I think the people who are talking about optics, saying, ‘Oh, it’s President Tinubu who should be there,’ well, they may be talking about optics, but most of them are also very mischievous. And I think that is the mischief that I worry about. Nigeria will not miss out. Tomorrow, we’re delivering our national statement led by the Vice President,” Abati added.

Vice President Shettima is leading Nigeria’s delegation which includes Foreign Minister Bianca Ojukwu, Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara and Minister of Solid Minerals Dele Alake. He is scheduled to deliver Nigeria’s national statement on Thursday.