The news that President Goodluck Jonathan jetted out of the country amidst violence in Kaduna and Yobe states provoked public outrage on Tuesday.
Jonathan on Monday travelled to Brazil to take part in a United Nations’ Earth Summit, leaving behind killings in Kaduna and Yobe. Opposition parties and other eminent citizens have described the trip as disappointing.
The House of Representatives said the President could have delegated the trip to Vice-President Namadi Sambo or any of his senior aides since the trip was “not special or of economic interest.”
The spokesman for the House, Zakari Mohammed said “A trip like that could have been delegated by Mr. President so that he can stay at home to take charge of security.
“We know that security agencies are supposed to do their job, but we cannot afford to compromise security. If our security is compromised, it is a failure of governance.” Mohammed added that investors would not come to Nigeria if the country was not safe.
The Action Congress of Nigeria, also aired their disappointment in a statement by his National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who faulted Jonathan’s journey amidst what it described as a “national tragedy.”
