Gowon, Obasanjo, Abdulsalami Attend Council Of State Meeting

• IBB, GEJ, Dogara absent

The Council of States meeting is currently holding in Abuja with three former Heads of States and four former Nigeria’s Chief Justices in attendance.

Summoned by President Muhammadu Buhari as part of efforts to address growing security concerns in the country, the meeting is also attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The ex-Heads of State attending the meeting are General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), former President Olusegun Obasanjo and General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd).

Obasanjo, who arrived late for the meeting, hurried into the Council chamber at about 11:12am after the national anthem and opening prayers offered by Gowon and former Chief justice of the federation, Mohammed Uwais.

His arrival forced journalists who were already leaving the hall to rush back and capture the moment as he headed straight to greet the President.

Among former Chief Justices of Nigeria at the meeting include Justice Muhammad Uwais and Justice Idris Kutigi. Others are Justice Mariam Alooma and Justice Alfa Belgore.

Also attending the meeting that commenced at 11am are Senate President Bukola Saraki and the 36 State Governors.

However, conspicuously missing from the list of attendees are immediate past President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and former Military President Ibrahim Babangida whose recent letter to Buhari on the State of the Nation caused ripples in the polity with the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Security Services (DSS) inviting his spokesperson, Prince Kassim Afegbua for questioning.

Also on the absentees’ list is Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara but no reasons were offered for their non-attendance.

Presidency sources hinted that the meeting is expected to focus on key national issues, especially security and appointment of National Commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

NAN reports indicated that a minute silence was observed in honour of former Chief Justice Dahiru Mustapher who died recently.