President Muhammadu Buhari is, at present, presiding over a meeting of the Council of State.
Former
leaders absent are Ibrahim Badamasi Babamgida, Goodluck Jonathan, Shehu Shagari
and Earnest Shomekan are absent.
Only
Generals Yakubu Gowon and Abdulsalami Abubakar as well as Chief Olusegun
Obasanjo are the former leaders present at the meeting.
Obasanjo,
who was five minutes late, rushed to greet Buhari before taking his seat.
This
is the third of such meeting since Buhari assumed office about three years ago.
The first one was on October 21, 2015; and the second, September 7, 2016.
The
meeting, which began at 11:05am, is being attended by Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo and Senate President Bukola Saraki.
The
closed-door meeting is expected to discuss the security challenges confronting
the country.
Gowon
and a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Uwais, said the opening
prayer.
Before
the meeting started, President Buhari had gone round the Council Chambers to
shake hands with his visitors.
The
governors in attendance are those of Sokoto, Delta, Adamawa, Imo, Benue, Lagos,
Nasarawa, Abia, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kebbi, Plateau, Kano, Wike, Akwa Ibom, Edo,
Ekiti, Zamfara, Ogun, Niger, Ebonyi.
Former
Chief Justices of Nigeria, Idris Kutigi and Aloma Muktar are also in
attendance.
A
one-minute silence was observed in honour of the late former Chief Justice of
Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Mustapha.
The
Council of State is an organ of the Federal Government saddled with the
responsibility of advising the executive on policy making.
The
council, which comprises president as chairman and vice president as deputy
chairman, has as members; all former presidents and Heads of State all former
Chief Justices of Nigeria, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of
Representatives, all state governors and Attorney-General of the Federation.
Its
duties include advising the president in the exercise of his powers with
respect to the National population census and compilation, publication and
keeping of records and other information concerning the same; prerogative of
mercy; award of national honours; the Independent National Electoral Commission
(including the appointment of members of that Commission); the National
Judicial Council (including the appointment of the members, other than
ex-officio members of that Council); the National Population Commission
(including the appointment of members of that Commission).
The
council also advises the president whenever requested to do so on the
maintenance of public order and on such other matters as the he may direct.
IBB, JONATHAN ABSENT AT BUHARI'S COUNCIL OF STATE MEETING
Reviewed by Maxwell Jackky Jr
on
03:43:00
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