Drama at Buhari’s second Council of State meeting

A mild drama occurred at the Council of State meeting being held at Aso Rock. Photographers and cameramen ‘ignored’ President Mohammadu Buhari for his immediate predecessor, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

Ernest Shonekan, Dr Goodluck Jonathan and Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar are present, while Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida are absent at the meeting. Conspicuously absent are General Yakubu Gowon and Shehu Shagari.

Among the attenders are also five past Chief Justices of the Federation, state governors and some of their deputies.

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Senate president, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara didn’t attend the meeting. President Buhari is expected to brief the council on the nomination of Ibrahim Idris as acting Inspector-General of Police and the Nigerian Police Council (NPC) is expected to ratify the appointment thereafter. The Council of State is the highest constitutional advisory body in Nigeria.

It is chaired by the leader of the nation. It is organ of the Nigerian government whose functions comprise advising the executive on policy making. This is the second meeting of the Council of State presided over by President Buhari. The first meeting of the council, under the incumbent administration, was held on October 21, 2015.