All living former presidents and heads of state are expected to converge at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, today as President Bola Tinubu convenes the Council of State meeting.
It was gathered that at the Tuesday’s meeting, first since the President assumed office 14 months ago, members will discuss recent events nationwide, particularly the #EndBadGovernance protests, the economy, food, and national security.
It comes 18 months after the council last met on February 10, 2023, under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
At the time, Buhari had convened the meeting over the 2023 elections, the crisis emanating from the new naira policy and fuel scarcity.
Sources with knowledge of the meeting’s agenda told The Punch that President Tinubu and his predecessors would discuss seven key issues.
A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the President would make presentations tagged: “The Nationwide Protest as it Affects National Security and the State of the Economy.”
The President will also discuss food security issues.
The source said “the Council of State meeting is today. I think it is the first one we will be holding since this President came into office because the last one was on February 10, 2023.
“We expect all former Presidents and Heads of State, Muhammadu Buhari, Goodluck Jonathan, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo, Abdulsalami Abubakar and Ibrahim Babangida.
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“The President will present on seven key areas, such as the nationwide protest as it affects national security, the state of the economy, food security, availability and affordability—that one is in the agric sector—consolidating the gains in the solid minerals sector.
“Then he will also talk about renewed hope in budgeting and planning for sustained development, renewed hope in the road sector, and leading a strong industrial base for transformation and growth.”
The council is meeting days after Nigerians, mostly youths, hit the roads in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, for a one-million-man march. The march, which suffered a low turnout, was meant to mark the 10th day of the nationwide protest against the biting cost of living.
In the early days of the protest, on August 1, demonstrations deteriorated into violence, destruction of property and loss of lives in many parts of the nation.
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