***Gowon, Abdulsalami, Jonathan present
By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari is currently presiding over the Council of State meeting apparently to discuss some pressing national crises including petrol and new Naira notes scarcity, insecurity, among others, ahead of the 2023 general election.
The hybrid meeting which started at at 10:12am with the rendition of the national anthem is taking place at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Expectedly, former Heads of State and Presidents in attendance are, General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd); Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd) and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan just as former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, joined online.
Other members of the Council of State
who joined online include Sokoto state governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Aminu Tambuwal; Kebbi State Governor and Chairman of Progressives Governors Forum, Abubakar Bagudu and Plateau state governor and Chairman of Northern Governors Forum, Simon Lalong.
Others are Governors of Ebonyi, David Umahi; Kogi, Yahaya Bello; Osun, Ademola Adeleke; Jigawa, Abubakar Badaru, and Ogun, Dapo Abiodun.
Also in attendance are Benue State Deputy governor Benson Abounu; Deputy governor of Nasarawa, Emmanuel Akabe, and Enugu Deputy Governor.
Two former Chief Justice of the Federation, Alfa Belgore and Mahmud Muhammad, were in attendance.
Others physically attending the meeting are Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo; President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representative, Femi Gbajabiamila; Attorney General, Minister of Justice; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and Head of Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan.
Governors physically attending are: Taraba, Dairu Isiaku! Kaduna, Nasir El-Rufai,Borno, Babagana Zulum, Gombe, Inuawa Yahaya, Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Kwara, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak and Deputy Governor Bauchi, Baba Talla.
The National Council of State is an organ of the Nigerian government whose functions include advising the executive on policy making.
Membership of the Council comprises the President, Vice President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, former presidents, former heads of state, former chief justices of Nigeria, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, governors of the 36 states of the federation and the Attorney General of the Federation.
Also present and awaiting their turn to brief the council are, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alkali Baba, Commandant General, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Hammed Audi and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele on the preparation for the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections as well as March 11 governorship and state houses of assembly polls and new Naira notes respectively.
