Nigeria At Risk Of Losing First Day Speaking Slot At Ongoing UN General Assembly –Report
Initially, it was assumed that President Tinubu would lead the Nigerian delegation, but he chose to prioritize local issues over international diplomacy.
The 79th United Nations General Assembly kicks off today (Tuesday), September 24, and Nigeria is scheduled to make its national statement on the first day.
However, there’s been some uncertainty surrounding Nigeria’s representation, given President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s absence due to domestic challenges, particularly the devastating flooding in Maiduguri, Borno State, Laolu Akande of Empowered Newswire reports.
SaharaReporters had reported that Tinubu would not lead the country’s delegation to the UN General Assembly session in New York this year.
This was announced in a statement last Thursday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
The statement said Tinubu directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the meeting.
Initially, it was assumed that President Tinubu would lead the Nigerian delegation, but he chose to prioritize local issues over international diplomacy.
Instead, Vice President Kashim Shettima will take the reins, delivering Nigeria’s national statement, attending key sideline events, and engaging in bilateral meetings.
Empowered Newswire reports that there are conflicting signals at the New York headquarters of the global body over whether the absence of the Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could affect the prominent day one slot earlier given to Nigeria on the assumption that the country would be represented by its head of state-the President.
Nigerian diplomats at the UN have been anxious about a potential change in speaking slot for their country, now that Vice President Shettima will be representing Nigeria instead of President Tinubu.
This concern stems from UN protocols that typically give precedence to Presidents and Kings over Vice Presidents in speaking order. The uncertainty arose after President Tinubu announced he wouldn’t attend the 79th UN General Assembly due to domestic issues, particularly the devastating flooding in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Empowered Newswire posed this question to UN spokespersons during a Monday press briefing, seeking clarification on whether Nigeria’s speaking slot would be affected by the change in representation.
The worry is understandable, given the significance of the speaking order and Nigeria’s initial expectation to be represented by its head of state.
However, it remains to be seen how this will play out during the General Assembly, which kicked off today, September 24, and runs until September 28.
While the spokespersons at the briefing didn’t have an immediate answer, Empowered Newswire later got a response from Ms. Sharon Birch, the spokesperson for the President of the UN General Assembly, sent to this reporter last night by email.
She said, “With regard to your question, please see explanation below from our Protocol officers:
“Normally, after the issuance of the provisional list of speakers the level of representation of a Member State changes, the replacement speaker will be accommodated as the final speaker in their category. Similarly, if the speaker is upgraded to a higher level, the replacement speaker will be last in their category.”
Empowered Newswire then pressed her to further clarify to which she responded that “If a Vice President replaces the President, he will then be the last one to speak in the category for Vice Presidents.”
A senior Nigerian diplomat explained that the response is reasonable since VPs speak after Presidents.
But officials of the Nigerian Permanent Mission have not received any such communication from the UN as at press time, Tuesday morning here in New York. One senior diplomat told Empowered Newswire that “we tried to maintain the slot,” referring to the slot the UN gave to President Tinubu.
Other top Nigerian government officials here also hinted that Vice President Kashim Shettima would still be speaking today (Tuesday) on Day One as far at the Nigerian Permanent Mission to the UN is concerned, on the slot given to the President.
But a UN Secretariat insider observed that “If the VP speaks at the exact slot given the President, then you must commend the diplomatic skill and influence of the Nigerian officials at the Permanent Mission because normally, a VP shouldn’t speak ahead of Presidents.”
The United Nations General Assembly is in full swing, and the numbers are impressive! According to Mr. Stephanie Dujarric, the spokesperson for the Secretary-General of the UN, 76 heads of state, including monarchs and presidents, have confirmed their physical participation to speak at the UN headquarters.
But that’s not all – four vice presidents, two crown princes, 42 heads of government (think prime ministers), and nine deputy prime ministers are also joining the gathering.
He disclosed that on Sunday, the first day of the Summit of the Future, which precedes the General Debate that kicked off today, the UN complex in New York welcomed over 11,000 people.
The debate starts today 9am New York time and the first debate session of the day goes on up till after 2pm. Then the second session for the day starts at 3pm till 9pm. The debate continues till the end of the week in that format.
Nigeria is set to take the stage at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) today, with its turn scheduled for the second session of the opening day. This spot was reserved for President Tinubu, but due to domestic challenges, Vice President Kashim Shettima will represent Nigeria instead.
Nigeria’s statement will wrap up the Day One deliberations of the UNGA General Debate, which is themed “Leaving No One Behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations.
