Buhari, Obasanjo, Jonathan, others to meet over insecurity today

President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to preside over a meeting of the Council of State today at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Those expected to attend the meeting at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa include former Presidents Sheu Shagari, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, while others expected to be attendance are former military Heads of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.), Gen Ibrahim   Babangida (retd.), Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar (retd.) and former Interim President, Chief Ernest Shonekan.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo will also be attendance, alongside the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representative, Yakubu Dogara, all living former Chief Justices of Nigeria, all the 36 state governors and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, who are all members of the council.  

This is the third time Buhari will be hosting the meeting of the council since he assumed office in 2015.

The two meetings of the council presided over by Buhari earlier were held in October 2015 and September 2016.

The series of killings being carried out by herdsmen in some parts of the country is expected to form part of discussions at the meeting.

The council has the constitutional duties of advising the President whenever it’s requested to do so, on the maintenance of public order within the federation or any part thereof.

It also has the duties of advising the President in the exercise of his powers with respect to national census, prerogative of mercy, award of national honours, the Idependent National Electoral Commission, the National Judicial Council and the National Population Commission.