UNGA 81: “You should thank me for front Seat”, Jimoh Ibrahim tells Nigerians

Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, says he deserves praise for securing a front-row seat for the country at the 81st UN General Assembly (UNGA 81) in New York.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Ibrahim responded to questions about why President Bola Tinubu did not attend the summit and why Nigeria was not seated right beside US President Donald Trump as previously suggested.

Ibrahim, in response, said Nigeria secured seat number six in the front row out of 193 member nations, which according to him is a major diplomatic achievement.

“You have to thank me and commend my effort. I said Nigeria would be in the front row, and Nigeria was in the front row. Do you think it is easy for a country to sit at number six out of 193?”, Ibrahim.

Ibrahim clarified that Trump did not stay in his assigned seat during the General Assembly session. He stated that the US leader delivered his address and left the venue immediately.

“Did Donald Trump sit in the seat that was provided for him?. He sat in the 27th seat, far away from Nigeria. He didn’t sit there for a second. He came to deliver his lecture and left”, Ibrahim.

The UN ambassador also defended President Tinubu’s decision to remain in Nigeria, revealing that about 60 percent of world leaders at this year’s assembly were represented by vice presidents or foreign ministers. Leaders from countries like China, Russia, South Africa, and Kenya also sent representatives rather than attending in person.

He added that flying to New York for a 15-minute speech was unnecessary when Vice President Shettima was already on the ground representing the nation.