Goodluck To Hold 1st Council Of State Meeting In Almost One Year

The Council of State meeting, being chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan, will hold on Tuesday about a year after the last one was held.

The council, which has Vice President Namadi Sambo as the deputy chairman, also has all former Presidents and Heads of Government, all former Chief Justices of Nigeria; President of the Senate; Speaker of the House of Representatives; all the 36 state governors and the Attorney-General of the Federation as members.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former military dictators, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) have however been staying away from previous meetings, leaving only former President Shehu Shagari, Gen. Yakubu Gowon and Chief Ernest Shonekan to attend.

Media reports had it that some state governors had been uncomfortable with the refusal of the President to convene a meeting of the council to address some pressing national issues.

The last time the meeting was held was on March 12, 2013, when a former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyesegha, and some others were granted state  pardon.

Our correspondent learnt on Monday that issues bordering on the planned national conference and the 2015 general elections would form part of the discussions at the meeting.

Highlights of the programme for the celebration of the nation’s 100 years of amalgamation would also be discussed.