Monday, May 11, 2015

Jonathan convenes last Council of State meeting

President Goodluck Jonathan has convened what appears to be the last meeting of the Council of State that will hold under his leadership. The meeting holds on Tuesday(tomorrow).


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.


Although the meeting, slated for 11am inside the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja is the last one Jonathan will be chairing, he  is still expected to be attending subsequent ones as a former President.


The President may use the opportunity of the meeting to thank council members for their supports since the inception of his administration and ask them to extend the same hand of fellowship to the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari.


By virtue of being a former Head of State, Buhari is an existing member of the council.


He will automatically assume its leadership after his inauguration on May 29.


The Tuesday meeting may also review the conduct of the last general elections across the country.


Buhari had been staying away from the council’s meetings up until the last meeting, which was held on February 5.


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


Council members had then been divided over the desirability or otherwise of postponing the general elections from the earlier scheduled dates of February 14 and 28.


One of the key responsibilities of that organ of government is to advise the President in the exercise of his powers with respect to INEC, including the appointments of members of the commission.

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