According to the Minister of information, Labaran Maku who briefed state house correspondents at the end of Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, “the president can rule from anywhere in the world.”

The Minister added that despite the president’s absence, there is no vacuum in government.

The weekly FEC meeting was presided over by Vice-President Namadi Sambo.

Despite the raging violence in Kaduna and Yobe States which has claimed close to 100 lives, President Jonathan departed for Rio de Janeiro, on Tuesday, to attend the United Nations’ Earth Summit, RIO+20.

A dusk to dawn curfew has been imposed in Kaduna state and in Damaturu, the Yobe state capital, keeping residents in doors for two days, as security agents battle to restore peace.

The president wass accompanied by his wife, two governors and a number of Ministers.

A wide range of criticism has greeted the president’s trip to the earth summit, with opposition party, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), describing the trip as the height of insensitivity and confused leadership.

“The decision by the President to travel two days after dozens of innocent Nigerians, including women and children, were killed or maimed by suicide bombers in Kaduna state, is a “sign of insensitive and confused leadership” the party stated.

Also, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) condemned trip to Brazil, saying the trip was like desertion of duty despite the “gloomy atmosphere pervading the country.”

The Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa (SAN), yesterday, told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that President Umaru Yar'Adua would neither resign his office nor allow his Vice, Dr. Jonathan Goodluck, to act as President for a second on account of his health.

According to the nation's Chief Law Officer, President Yar'Adua was not suffering from infirmity of body or mind as to render him permanently incapable of discharging the functions of his office from anywhere in the world.

ebamma: so if he did not travel will that have brought back the dead

The Minister added that despite the president’s absence, there is no vacuum in government.

dayokanu:

So if you planned a journey and one of your children had an accident lying in the hospital bed, would you still proceed?

Mallamabdul: This business tip has been planned before now, the so called boko haram and their sponsors just worked on it to destabilize the presidential trip,of which if it was cancelled they would use it against him, that he cancelled a trip that should have beneficial to the economy to sit at home, and now that he went it has also turned to a disadvantage for the enemies of the administration. If GEJ was in the country, he would have delegated the problems to those who it's there responsibilities. Meanwhile, why don't people mention the state governor of these states in chaos, or the IG of police, why blame the president on all issues. Think people.

ismhab: MAKU OR LAKU OR WHAT EVER UR NAME IS CALLED, I THINK HE IS DRUNK, WHO TELL U SAY NIGERIA IS GOODLUCK'S WIFE THAT HE CAN RULE HER ANY WHERE HE LIKE?

eGuerrilla:

Source

ogbeidejude: The President can actually rule this country from anywhere in the world. He is away to Brasil but the constitution of the land has made it easy that even when the number 1 man is away his fuctions and duties can be carried out by the number 2 man. Which is in place now. He is in on track and doing well as a president. Let's not politicise everything in Nigeria. All is on track as this is not his first trip away. God bless Nigeria.

Mallamabdul: This business tip has been planned before now, the so called boko haram and their sponsors just worked on it to destabilize the presidential trip,of which if it was cancelled they would use it against him, that he cancelled a trip that should have beneficial to the economy to sit at home, and now that he went it has also turned to a disadvantage for the enemies of the administration. If GEJ was in the country, he would have delegated the problems to those who it's there responsibilities. Meanwhile, why don't people mention the state governor of these states in chaos, or the IG of police, why blame the president on all issues. Think people.

Pukkah: This is actually a very good statement. If he can rule from Brazil, he can as well rule from Jos, Kano, Bauchi or Borno. One of these places should become his seat of government then.

werepeLeri: anyone that speaks on the side of GEJ don collect money for una eye - no wonder una dey beef people here. Why you no dey him side as well, so the share go reach you. See your mouth.

Don't mind them jare. You are just a [size=17pt]devil[/size]'s advocate