Nigeria’s Information Minister, Labaran Maku, today declared that President Goodluck Jonathan can rule from anywhere he chose in the world.
Mr. Maku described those criticizing President Jonathan for abandoning the country to travel to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as ignorant. Mr. Jonathan left Nigeria two days ago to attend the United Nations’ Earth Summit, RIO+20. His departure came a day after two of Nigeria’s states, Kaduna and Yobe, were overwhelmed by violent sectarian strife precipitated by the bombing of several churches and reprisal attacks by Christians.
Mr. Maku, who spoke to journalists at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, said, in addition, that the Nigerian constitution also provides for the post of vice president. He noted that Vice President Namadi Sambo has since assumed the headship of the government during Mr. Jonathan’s absence.
Mr. Sambo added that Vice President Sambo called a meeting with security chiefs on Tuesday to examine the security situation in the country.
According to Mr. Maku, “The President can take decisions from anywhere in the world. His absence will not hamper his power to act. The Vice President effectively takes charge of affairs once the president is out of Nigeria and he is in touch with the President on hourly basis.” The Information Minister added, “There is no vacuum. The most important thing is that the president and the vice work harmoniously and are in constant touch. If the President panics, what will the people do? We must stop making politics out of the unfortunate incidence going on in Northern Nigeria.”
Mr. Maku condemned those “who think that because the President is out of the country he cannot make decision for the country. It is not true. Today, with advances in information technology, every President in this world, anywhere he is – even from the skies – can give directive to any Defense chief to act on any matter in the country.”
Said the minister, “We are living in a new world and I think people should understand this. We should not play politics with this. The President can convey a conversation with the Vice President, the Defense Chief even on the plane. They can do so from any part of the world with the advances in technology that we have reached.”
Mr. Jonathan’s trip to Brazil has been widely condemned by Nigerian political parties, political activists, church leaders and commentators on the Internet.
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I am not suprised at the minister's comment. Anybody that doesn't know the value of something would say more than that. It's just like the case of a legitimate child and an illegitimate one. The government lacks legitimacy, they stole the mandate and are now stealing the resources. What do you expect to happen when thieves and barbarians are at the helm of affairs? God, come to our aid in Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteHow can we now be surprised by the actions of the president when those who surrounds him are morons and imbeciles. How can a learned person say that a president of any giving country can rule from anywhere in the world. It shows the degree of nitwit personalities running the affairs of our great nation called Nigeria.
DeleteDoes that mean that if President Jonathan is not in Nigeria then the Country is grounded? Far be it from Governance. Governance\Government is a system & not about an individual. Because certain people have their agenda of distroying & destabiling the Country, should not stop mr. President from travelling besides his presence means nothing 'cos they are bent on destruction.
ReplyDeleteYou talking you are the biggest moron that ever lived! so because of some stupid Northerners the President should wave a meeting with such magnitude? what then is the use of the VP's office. Senseless BOKO's
ReplyDeleteYES OOOH GEJ CAN RULE 4RM THE MOON OR RELOCATE TO USA AND DIRECT AFFAIRS AFTERALL WHEN IN NIGERIA BOKOS STILL KILLS. GOOD WILL REWARD EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS. IF WE SURVIVE TILL 2015,WE WILL KNOW WERE TO CAST OUR VOTES IF IT WILL COUNT? GOD HELP US,AMEN!!
ReplyDeleteWhat meetings and of what Magnitude!!!
ReplyDeleteSince he can rule from anywhere in the world, he can as well seat back in Brazil and rule. The argument of Maku is evident of leaders with no sense of Leadership. If they don't understand leadership, they should go and learn it. Leaving your country and countrymen when your people are under serious attacks is nothing but an irresponsible act. If Maku wants to be true with himself Sambo should have been deployed to the Brazil meeting and not the President.
Its simple, we lack leaders in Nigeria - maybe we should go and learn from Leaders like Mandela to understand what leadership is - to me its "Laying down your life for those you have been called to serve"
Yes, Jonathan can choose to rule from anywhere, in this village turned, modern world. But the problem I have is that even when he was 'ruling' from home, no one felt his impact expect when his wife moves over to Lagos to inlict traffic mayhem on the hapless people of the centre of excellence or when she throws her vocal bombast.
ReplyDeleteIs anyone missing the first couple? I have also heard it said that it was a one-way ticket our pressy and his dame got to Brazil. Is this true? Can someone please confirm. Thank you.
This Minister is a clown!
ReplyDeleteWhat a comment? i gues Maku can relocat 2 Gabon & stil b d minister of info here. Let's draw d line b/w being comited & bein insensitiv 2 d plyt of odas.
ReplyDeleteIts not about being in control or being able to rule remotely or not, it is about demonstrating empathy for the people he is leading - great presidents are known to break or cancel official presidential visits in solidarity with their people when the situation demands.
ReplyDelete