After boycotting the meeting of the Council of state in the government of President Goodluck Jonathan for several times, the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari found the convenience to attend the one held today at the Presidential villa.
Today’s Council of state’s meeting was well attended with Former President Olusegun Obasanjo also in attendance.
The former president entered the Council Chamber venue of the meeting at 12.10pm, close to 40 minutes behind schedule, according to sources.
The meeting started at 11.30am after the arrival of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Former Nigeria leaders that attended the meeting are – the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida,Gen. Chief Ernest Shonekan and Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Tuesday’s meeting will be the last under the outgoing President Jonathan.
The state governors at the meeting are – Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Ramalan Yero (Kanuda), Sarieke Dickson (Bayelsa), James Ngilari (Adamawa), Tanko Almakura(Nasarawa) and Gabriel Suswam(Benue).
Others are – Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Jonah Jang (Plateau) Liyel Imoke(Cross River), and Acting Governor of Taraba State.
Kano, Kogi, Oyo and Yobe States were represented by their deputy governors.
The Senate President, David Mark, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and former Chief Justices of Nigeria including Muhammadu Uwais, Alfa Belgore and Idris Kutigi were also the meeting.
Also in attendance were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki and the Chief of Staff to the President, Jones Arogbofa .
Opening Christian and Muslim prayers were said by the governors of Cross Rivers and Kaduna respectively.