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“President Tinubu Is Going to Be Embarrassed at the UN” — U.S Policy Firm Warns Ahead of UNGA
“President Tinubu Is Going to Be Embarrassed at the UN” — U.S Policy Firm Warns Ahead of UNGA
A United States-based policy advisory and lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, has issued a strongly worded warning over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s expected attendance at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York next month.
The firm claimed that Tinubu could face significant embarrassment during the high-profile international gathering, amid renewed attention to allegations concerning his past and an alleged connection to heroin trafficking.
Von Batten-Montague-York made the claim in a post published Monday on its verified X account, where it also addressed reports that President Tinubu has been seeking a private meeting with United States President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the UNGA.
According to the lobbying and policy advisory firm, such a meeting is unlikely to take place, claiming that individuals within the Trump administration have made their position clear regarding the allegations surrounding the Nigerian president.
The firm specifically alleged that key members of the Trump administration have indicated that Trump would not hold a private meeting with someone it described as an alleged heroin trafficker.
The claims come as world leaders are expected to converge on New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly, one of the most prominent diplomatic gatherings where heads of state and government leaders engage in bilateral meetings, strategic discussions and multilateral diplomacy.
While questioning the likelihood of a Trump-Tinubu private meeting, the firm acknowledged that Tinubu, as Nigeria’s president and representative of a UN member state, would still be able to travel to New York and participate in the General Assembly.
It stated that his attendance would be covered by the access and transit protections afforded to representatives of United Nations member states.
However, the firm warned that Tinubu’s presence at the UN could attract renewed international scrutiny over the allegations it referenced.
In a particularly provocative statement, Von Batten-Montague-York said it expected leaders from different countries to be aware of the allegations against the Nigerian president and suggested that it could launch an awareness campaign targeting people in New York if it received authorisation.
The firm said:
“We look forward to President Tinubu attending the UNGA next month. Unfortunately for President Tinubu, he is going to be embarrassed at the UN.
“From reports we have seen, from South Africa to Italy, world leaders attending the UNGA will be fully aware of the heroin-trafficking allegations against President Tinubu.
“If we are authorised, we will put into operation our plan to ensure every New Yorker within a six-mile radius of UN Headquarters learns about President Tinubu’s alleged role in smuggling poison (heroin) onto American soil,” the firm said
The statement is likely to generate further political controversy in Nigeria, particularly because allegations concerning Tinubu’s alleged links to drug trafficking in the United States have repeatedly surfaced in Nigerian political discourse.
Tinubu has consistently denied wrongdoing, and allegations should not be treated as established facts without credible evidence or a definitive legal finding.
The controversy also comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen diplomatic and political relations with the United States under the Tinubu administration.
The UNGA provides an important platform for Nigerian leaders to engage directly with foreign governments, international institutions and global business and political leaders. Any high-level bilateral meetings involving the Nigerian president therefore typically attract considerable attention.
The claim by Von Batten-Montague-York that a private meeting between Tinubu and Trump will not happen remains the firm’s assertion and does not, by itself, constitute confirmation of the United States president’s schedule or diplomatic decisions.
Similarly, its threat to publicise the allegations around the UN Headquarters would depend on whether the firm receives the authorisation it referenced.
With the UNGA approaching, attention is now likely to focus on President Tinubu’s planned participation, the diplomatic engagements expected on the sidelines and whether the alleged Trump-Tinubu meeting will ultimately take place.
The controversy also highlights how allegations from Nigeria’s political past can resurface on the international stage, particularly when the country’s president is attending one of the world’s most closely watched diplomatic gatherings.
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