Okonkwo Claims Tinubu Is Staying Away From UNGA Over ‘Venezuela Option’

Kenneth Okonkwo has called attention to President Bola Tinubu’s absence from the ongoing United Nations General Assembly, alleging that concerns over possible arrest in the United States may have influenced the decision.

Okonkwo, who serves as a spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential campaign, made the allegation during an interview with Arise News.

He questioned why Tinubu had not personally attended the UNGA this year and pointed out that Vice President Kashim Shettima is once again representing Nigeria at the international event.

Reports indicate that Tinubu attended the 2023 UN General Assembly but was represented by Shettima in 2024 and 2025. The current absence therefore represents the third consecutive year the President has not personally attended the gathering.

Okonkwo accused presidential aide Bayo Onanuga of commenting on the issue without adequately addressing the President’s absence.

He alleged that Tinubu was staying away from the United States because he did not want to face what he described as the “Venezuela option.”

The allegation comes amid renewed public interest in historical U.S. records concerning Tinubu.

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Okonkwo referenced the forfeiture of $460,000 in a U.S. case dating back to the 1990s. Court records document the forfeiture, while recent proceedings have generated renewed calls for the release of additional records concerning the historical investigation.

A separate Freedom of Information Act case in the United States is seeking records from federal agencies concerning investigations involving Tinubu. Tinubu has challenged the release of the records.

Despite Okonkwo’s claims, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, has previously stated that Tinubu and his family face no U.S. travel restrictions.

Ibrahim said the Nigerian mission had received no notification that the President would be restricted from moving to or from the UN headquarters during the General Assembly.

The Nigerian government has also maintained that the U.S. legal records issue is not evidence of a criminal case against the President.

Okonkwo’s comments have therefore added another political dimension to the debate over Tinubu’s absence from UNGA. His assertion that the President is avoiding the United States to prevent possible arrest remains unsubstantiated.

For now, Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st UN General Assembly is being led by Vice President Shettima as world leaders gather in New York for the annual diplomatic meeting.