The Council of State meeting has began in Aso Villa with some notable statesmen surprisingly absent.
President Muhammadu Buhari and former President Olusegun Obasanjo today in Abuja
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, former military President, Ibrahim Babangida and ex-President Shehu Shagari were conspicuously absent at the time the Council of State meeting started at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday, according to a report by The Nation.
However, former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd) and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd) are all in attendance. The meeting started at few minutes past 11:00 a.m.
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state; Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state, Rochas Okorocha of Imo state and many others are in attendance. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo arrived after the national anthem and the opening prayers were said.
The meeting was the third Council of State meeting held under President Muhammadu Buhari.
Also at the meeting are Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Chief Justices of Nigeria and Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
Governors of Adamawa, Benue, Kebbi, Jigawa, Delta, Lagos, Nasarawa, Abia, Sokoto, Imo, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Kano, Plateau, Ogun, Rivers, Zamfara, Ebonyi and Kaduna States are also attending the meeting.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, was absent when the meeting started. The meeting started when President Buhari arrived the Council Chamber and went round the place to shake hands with those present.
The first meeting under Buhari was held on October 21, 2015, while the second was held in September 2016.
The National Council of State is chaired by President Buhari, with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo as Deputy Chairman. The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.