JUST IN: OBASANJO ARRIVES LATE…As Jonathan, Babangida, Others, Shun President Buhari’s Invitation To Aso Rock

President Muhammadu Buhari is, at present, presiding over a meeting of the Council of State.

Former leaders absent are Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Goodluck Jonathan, Shehu Shagari and Earnest Shonekan.

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 11:05 am, 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, 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 policymaking.