APC Governors, Buhari, Tambuwal Boycott Council Of State Meeting

According to reports gathered from Punch, all state governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress on Tuesday boycotted a meeting of the Council of State convened by President Goodluck Jonathan. None of them was also represented.

As of the time the meeting started at 11.30am inside the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, only Peoples Democratic Party governors were in attendance.

Also conspicuously absent at the meeting were a former Head of State and presidential aspirant of the APC, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.); and the embattled Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo; former President Shehu Shagari; former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.); former Head of the Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan; and the President of the Senate, David Mark, are however in attendance.

The meeting was called, among other reasons, to review the deteriorating security situation in parts of the country.

While the President serves as the Chairman and the Vice President serves as the Deputy Chairman, other members of the council are all former Presidents and all former Heads of Governments, 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.

The council’s duties include to advise the President in the exercise of his powers with respect to the national population census and compilation, publication and keeping of records and other information concerning the same; prerogative of mercy; award of national honours; the Independent National Electoral Commission (including the appointment of members of that Commission); the National Judicial Council (including the appointment of the members, other than ex-officio members of that Council); and the National Population Commission (including the appointment of members of that Commission).

Council members are also saddled with the responsibility of advising the President whenever requested to do so on the maintenance of public order within the Federation or any part thereof and on such other matters as the President may direct.