Former Military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, and former President Goodluck Jonathan were conspicuously absent at the Council of State meeting held on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Also absent were former President Shehu Shagari and Head of Interim Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan.
Former presidents and heads of state are members of the council which is the nation’s constitutional advisory body.
Also in the council are state governors.
Three former heads of state and four chief justices attended the meeting.
At the meeting which was at the instance of President Muhammadu Buhari too was Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Former heads of state present were retired Generals Yakubu Gawon, Abdulsalami Abubakar and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The four former Chief Justices of Nigeria at the meeting were Justice Muhammad Uwais; Idris Kutigi; Mariam Alooma and Justice Alfa Belgore.
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Senate President Bukola Saraki and state governors were at the meeting too.
The meeting of the Council of State deliberates on key national issues including appointment of National Commissioners for the nation’s Independent National Electoral Commission.
News Agency of Nigeria reports that during the meeting, a minute silence was observed in memory of late former Chief Justice Dahiru Mustapher, who died recently.
Opposition Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, a fierce critic of President Muhammadu Buhari, met face-to-face and had a warm handshake with the president at the occasion.
