JONATHAN, IBB, ABSENT AT COUNCIL OF STATE MEETING
JONATHAN,
IBB, ABSENT AT COUNCIL OF STATE MEETING
Former Nigerian leaders, Goodluck Jonathan and Ibrahim Babangida,
are notably absent at the meeting of the National Council of State that kicked
off minutes ago at the council chamber of the presidential villa Abuja.
The
meeting, which started some minutes after 11 a.m., is being chaired by
President Muhammadu Buhari.
Former
President Olusegun Obasanjo arrived late for the event.
He hurried
into the council chamber at about 11:12a.m. after the national anthem and
opening prayers were offered by former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, and former
chief justice of the federation, Mohammed Uwais.
Mr.
Obasanjo headed straight to greet Mr. Buhari, forcing journalists who were already
leaving the room to rush back and capture the moment.
It would
be the second public meeting between the two leaders since Mr. Obasanjo urged
President Buhari to quit in 2019, dismissing his government as corrupt and
incompetent.
The
speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, who is also a member of
the council is also absent.
An unusual
face at the meeting is the governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, who is
attending a meeting chaired by Mr. Buhari for the first time.
The
Secretary to the Government of Federation, Boss Mustapha, called for a minute
of silence in honour of former CJN, Dahiru Musdapher, who died recently.
Among
those attending the meeting, apart from the governors and former presidents,
are the Senate President, Bukola Saraki; former Chief Justices of Nigeria,
Mariam Mukhtar, Mohammed Belgore, Mohammed Uwais and Idris Kutigi.