Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, alleging that the President’s decision not to attend the global meeting in person raises questions about his relationship with the United States.
Speaking on the issue, Okonkwo said the President ought to have been physically present at the UNGA, arguing that Nigeria’s leader had missed the high-level gathering for three consecutive years.
“He ought to be at the UNGA in person; he hasn’t been there for three consecutive years. A reasonable man should say he is hiding from the United States of America,” Okonkwo said.
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The campaign spokesperson further linked the President’s absence to what he described as “the Venezuela option”, though he did not provide details or evidence to support the claim.
Okonkwo’s comments come amid discussions over Nigeria’s representation at major international engagements, with President Tinubu represented at the UN General Assembly by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
On the separate controversy involving a $500 million transaction linked to a former US investigation, Okonkwo defended Atiku, arguing that the former vice-president was not a party to the contract at the centre of the matter.
According to him, the $1.7 million transferred to Atiku’s wife in 2002 was for her upkeep and was unrelated to any alleged criminal activity.
“The President Is Absent and Hiding From the UNGA Because He Doesn’t Want ‘The Venezuela Option’,” Okonkwo said, while addressing the issue.
He added that the tribunal did not establish criminality against Atiku, arguing that the timing of the foreign transaction and the contract signing did not amount to evidence of wrongdoing.
“The money transferred was for the upkeep of his wife. Atiku was not invited because he was not a party to the contract,” he said.
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