Jubilation As Tinubu finally solves his Chicago problem
Writer and academic Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo has taken a satirical swipe at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his reported absence from the 2026 United Nations General Assembly in New York.
In a commentary titled “Jubilation As Tinubu Finally Solves His Chicago Problem,” Okonkwo suggested sarcastically that Tinubu’s decision not to attend the UNGA would shield him from questions about controversies surrounding his past in Chicago.
“ No UNGA. No New York. No Chicago questions. Tinubu is home free,” Okonkwo wrote.
He noted that Tinubu had also been absent from the UNGA in previous years, while Vice President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria at the international gathering.
Okonkwo contrasted the two leaders, describing Shettima as someone who, in his view, focuses on completing official assignments without the controversies he associates with Tinubu’s public appearances.
The writer also mocked the possibility of Tinubu appearing alongside US President Donald Trump, joking that such a meeting could have generated significant international media attention.
According to Okonkwo, Tinubu’s return to the United States had only been delayed and could still happen in the future.
He further linked the situation to what he repeatedly described as Tinubu’s “Chicago problem,” referring to longstanding controversies and legal questions surrounding the president’s past in the United States.
Okonkwo ended the piece in his characteristic satirical style, suggesting that Tinubu could eventually have “the last laugh” and return to America after the current political circumstances change.
Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo teaches Post-colonial African History, Diasporic African Literature and African Folktales at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He is also an author and commentator on Nigerian and African affairs.
