Why Buhari is attending UN Assembly in New York – Presidency replies critics

The Presidency has described the 74th United Nations General Assembly, which begins fully on Monday, as Nigeria’s “day in the sun’’.

Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, stated this shortly after President Muhammadu Buhari’s arrival in New York on Sunday for the weeklong global event.

Answering questions from newsmen, Adesina hinged his comment on the recent emergence of a Nigerian, Amb. Tijani Muhammad-Bade, as the President of the UN General Assembly, NAN reports.

He said all eyes would be on Nigeria at the event considering the fact that a fellow citizen, Ms Amina Mohammed, is currently the Deputy Secretary-General of the UN.

“It is very significant; it is like Nigeria’s day in the sun because you don’t have it better than that.

“The Deputy Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly, and then you are the President of that country.

“It is like focus would be on Nigeria, and it is a good one for our country’’, he said.

The presidential aide dismissed suggestions by some opposition elements that Buhari was attending the GA without a national agenda.

“Every country comes (to the General Assembly) with a national statement, and what our president is going to present is the national statement of Nigeria.

“So, anybody that says that does not understand,’’ Adesina said.

The president, who landed earlier at the John F. Kennedy International Airport, was accompanied by some top government officials and senior aides.

The theme for the UNGA74 is, “Galvanising Multilateral Efforts for Poverty Eradication, Quality Education, Climate Action and Inclusion.”

Buhari is scheduled as the fifth speaker during the General Debates billed for Tuesday.

Leaders of countries’ delegations are expected to “present their National Statements and speak to the theme of the session’’, Adesina said in a statement earlier.

Adesina said the president would speak on ‘’administration’s commitment to building on the achievements of its three-point agenda following the renewal of his electoral mandate by majority of Nigerians.

“He will also reaffirm Nigeria’s position on salient global issues,’’ he said.