Jonathan, Buhari physically present as Tinubu presides over Council of State meeting in Aso Rock

By Egena Sunday Ode

Former President Goodluck Jonathan and former President Muhamamdu Buhari are the two former leaders that are physically attending the inaugural Council of State meeting currently underway at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting of the former leaders is the first under the current administration, convened by President Bola Tinubu at the State House Council Chambers.

Former Heads of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rted) and Abdulsalami Abubakar, joined the meeting virtually alongside the governors of Abia, Adamawa and Akwa Ibom State, during the brief opening ceremony where both the national anthem asvwell as national pledge were sang and recited respectively.

The council comprises president as chairman and vice president as deputy chairman, all living former Heads of State and Presidents, all former Chief Justices of Nigeria, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, all state governors and Attorney-General of the Federation as members.

The Council of State is an organ of the federal government saddled with the responsibility of advising the executive on policy matters.

The meeting which began at 12:35pm, is expected to address pressing national issues, including food security, national security, and economic policies.

The last council of state meeting held on February 10, 2023, under former President Buhari. At the time, Buhari had convened the meeting over the 2023 elections, the crisis emanating from the new naira policy and fuel scarcity.