President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday presided over an enlarged meeting of the National Security Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
However, despite the fact that all the state governors were invited to the meeting to discuss security development, governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were absent.
Present at the all-important security meeting were governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and their counterparts in the Labour Party and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Olusegun Mimiko and Willie Obiano, respectively.
Also present were the Ministers of Defence, Gen Aliyu Gusau; Interior, Abba Moro; National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki; Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh; Chiefs of Army, Navy, Air Force, the Inspector General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Service.
Fielding questions from State House correspondents after the meeting that lasted for about three hours, Governor Godswil Akpabio of Akwa Ibom dismissed insinuation that the APC governors boycotted the meeting.
According to him, the opposition governors were not invited to the meeting, saying it was meant for the PDP governors to discuss state of the nation with the President.
This position, however contradicted the statement released to the public by the Presidential Media Adviser, Dr. Reuben Abati, which suggested that all the state governors were expected at the meeting.
Abati had stated, “The meeting of the National Security Council will be followed at 1300 Hours by an enlarged meeting on security developments in the country to which President Jonathan has invited State Governors.
“President Jonathan, members of the National Security Council and the state governors will review the security situation in the country as well as ongoing national security measures and operations with a view to determining the best way forward”.
Asked specifically why the APC governors were not in the meeting, Akpabio said, “No, no, no they were not invited. You know there was an initial requisition of this meeting by the PDP governors, this was as a fall out of our own meeting.
“We just wanted to meet with our President and some Service Chiefs to hear our views and also make some suggestions. Now, he is insisting which is right too that is a national issue because it must be handled nationally and that is why all the governors must be here.
“I don’t think there is a governor who will not love to be here to also add his voice and suggestion and how we can tackle the current situation. We must face the situation and it is not something we can politicise, you don’t politicise security.
“All hands must be on deck, the entire country every single Nigerian must contribute it’s quota towards bringing the current situation to an end. I believe that if you are not a soldier you can also be an informant.
“And of course you know that this thing is becoming like an HIV if you are not infected you are affected. Your children are also involved, your grand children and relations.
“If people are now attacking schools to disrupt the lives of children how will you not be concerned,” he said.
However, because security is a national issue, Akpabio, said President Jonathan has now agreed to invite all the governors to another meeting next week Wednesday to discuss security issue.
He said, “Mr President has graciously listened to us and he said since is a national issue we must have all the 36 governors in attendance.
“So, I believe strongly notice will be going out and all governors will be meeting with Mr. President and service chiefs next week Wednesday so we can sit and discuss and proffer solutions to the current insecurity in the country”.
