Obasanjo, Buhari, others attend Council of State meeting

Obasanjo, Buhari, others attend Council of State meeting

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu
Buhari (retd.), are among living former Nigerian leaders attending a meeting of
the Council of State currently holding inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Council consists of the President (as the chairman), Vice President, all
former Presidents or former Heads of State, all former Chief Justices of Nigeria,
President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, all state
governors and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

This is the last time President Goodluck Jonathan will be presiding over the
meeting since he will be handing over to Buhari on May 29.
As of the time the meeting started at about 11am, former Nigerian leaders in
attendance included Buhari, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.),
Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd.), Chief Ernest Shonekan and Gen. Abdusalami
Abubakar (retd.).

Obasanjo however joined the meeting at about 12:15am.
Obasanjo and Buhari had been avoiding most of the council’s meetings under
Jonathan’s leadership.

The President-elect however made a surprise attendance at the last meeting held
on February 5.

At that meeting, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission,
Prof. Attahiru Jega, had briefed members on the preparation for the general
elections.