IBB, Jonathan, Shagari absent at Council of State

FORMER Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, for Presidents Goodluck Jonathan, Alhaji Shehu Shagari and Chief Ernest Shonekan were conspicuously absent on Thursday’s Council of States meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

This is as the Senate President, Bukola Saraki was hailed on arrival by the Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal as he sauntered into the venue of the meeting.

As at the time the meeting started few minutes after 11am before journalists left the venue only three former Presidents, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Generals. Yakubu Gowon, and Abdulsalami Abubakar were at the venue alongside President Muhammadu Buhari.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo arrived after the national anthem and the opening prayers were said. The meeting was the third Council of States meeting held under the democratic administration of President Buhari. The Council of States meeting is always attended by former Presidents or head of States, serving and former Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, serving Senate President and Speaker, House of Representatives as well as State governors.

Aside President Buhari and the three other past presidents, theVice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President, Bukola Saraki and four former Chief Justices of Nigeria were seated at the Council Chamber,the venue.

The past four CJN present are Idris Kutigi, Alfa Balgore, Mariam Aluooma, and Muhammed Uwais, while the serval CJN, Walter Onnoghen was absent, though unconfirmed report has it that serving CJN is not a member of the Council of States.

Also absent as at the commencement of the meeting was the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.