Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday arrived at the Presidential Villa, Abuja for his first National Council of State meeting since leaving office.
The meeting is the second one under the current dispensation, while the first meeting was held on October 21, 2015.
Other former heads of state who attended the meeting included General Abdulsalami Abubakar and Chief Ernest Shonekan.
However, former military ruler, General Yakubu Gowon; former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former President Shehu Shagari were absent.
Also absent from the meeting were Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.
Former Chief Justices of Nigeria at the meeting included Lawal Uwais, Mariam Muktar, Idris Kutigi, Alfa Belgore.
Among the state governors at the meeting were Rivers, Borno, Niger, Imo, Cross River, Taraba, Yobe, Benue, Bauchi, Enugu, Kwara, Adamawa.
Others were Abia, Sokoto, Kaduna, Lagos, Kogi, Plateau, Jigawa, Kebbi, Katsina.
Meanwhile, reports say there was a mild drama prior the meeting as photographers and cameramen ‘abandoned’ President Buhari for former President Jonathan.
It was gathered that the cameramen and photographers focused on Jonathan for about one minute while Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, governors and other officials in attendance remained standing.
The council of state meeting is an assembly of former presidents, former chief justices, serving governors and current heads of both chambers of the National Assembly. It is chaired by the President while the Vice-President serves as the deputy chairman.
Buhari attended only two of such meetings under Jonathan’s administration, the first was in February 2015 when the 2015 election was postponed and the second was on May 12, 2015, the last council of state where the appointment of the then acting Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, was ratified.
Below are photos from the meeting:
