Former Military Head of State, Mr Ibrahim Babangida, former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan, Shehu Shagari and Mr Ernest Shonekan were conspicuously absent in Thursday’s Council of States meeting at Presidential Villa, Abuja.

This is as Senate President, Mr Bukola Saraki was hailed on arrival by Sokoto State governor, Mr Aminu Tambuwal as he sauntered into the venue of the meeting.

As at the time the meeting started few minutes after 11am before journalists left the venue, only three former Presidents, Mr Olusegun Obasanjo, Mr Yakubu Gowon, and Mr Abdulsalami Abubakar were at the venue alongside President Muhammadu Buhari.

Obasanjo arrived after the national anthem and opening prayers.

The meeting was the third Council of States meeting held under the administration Mr Buhari.

The Council of States meeting is statutorily attended by former Presidents or head of States, serving and former Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, serving Senate President and Speaker, House of Representatives as well as State governors.

Aside Buhari and three other past presidents, Vice President, Mr Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President, Mr Bukola Saraki and four former Chief Justices of Nigeria were seated at the Council Chamber, the venue.

The past four CJN present are Mr Idris Kutigi, Mr Alfa Balgore, Mrs Mariam Aloma, and Mr Muhammed Uwais.

Also absent as at the commencement of the meeting was Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara.

Others also present at the meeting included state governors of Adamawa, Benue, Kebbi, Jigawa, Delta, Lagos, Nasarawa, Abia, Sokoto, Imo, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Kano, Plateau, Ogun, Rivers, Zamfara, Ebonyi, Kaduna.

The meeting started after Buhari arrived the Council Chamber venue of the meeting and went round to shake hands with those present.

The first meeting under Buhari was held on the 21st October, 2015, while the second was held in September 2016.

National Council of State is chaired by President Buhari, with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo as Deputy Chairman.

Opening prayers were said by Gowon and Uwais.

The meeting focussed on issues of insecurity in the country as well as the coming elections in 2019.

Officials from Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) were around to brief the council.

Vanguard