Zamfara Governor, Dauda Lawal, has dismissed President Bola Tinubu’s absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly as a non-issue, saying Vice President Kashim Shettima is adequately representing Nigeria at the global gathering.
Lawal stated this in an interview on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, amid discussions over Tinubu’s absence from the annual gathering of world leaders.
Tinubu is currently in France on what the Presidency has described as a working vacation, while Shettima is representing him at the UNGA.
Speaking on the issue, Lawal said the President’s absence should not generate concerns, noting that the Vice President had the constitutional responsibility to represent him when necessary.
“I think it’s no reason why the President couldn’t make it for some reasons. Now, the Vice President is going to represent Nigeria, so I think it’s okay.
“The message is the sole President’s message that the Vice President is going to deliver, so I don’t see that as any issue,” the governor said.
Lawal, who compared the situation to the relationship between governors and their deputies at the state level, said there were occasions when governors could not attend certain engagements and had to delegate their deputies.
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“I’ve had these issues even at the state level where in most cases, they always want to see the governor. But of course, you have a deputy.
“So, in an administration where there’s something that makes it impossible for you to attend, of course, you always delegate,” he said.
The governor said he believed there must be a strong reason for Tinubu’s inability to attend the UNGA in person and urged Nigerians to give the President the benefit of the doubt.
“I believe there must be a very strong reason why he’s unable to make it. So, let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. At least, the Vice President will be there,” Lawal added.
