Expectedly, Governors Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano state, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state, Rochas Okorocha of Imo state and other governors from All Progressives Congress (APC) were absent today, at a meeting convened by President Goodluck Jonathan to reveiew the security challenges facing the country.
The President initiated the meeting, which began at about 2.00pm today, to involve all the state governors in finding solution to incessant security challenges posed mainly Boko Haram.
The meeting, Presided over by President Jonathan, was attended by Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Minister of Defence, Major General Aliyu Gusau, Foreign affairs minister, Ambassador Aminu Wali, Chief of Defence Staff and other service chiefs.
There were eighten state governors mainly from states Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), two deputy governors. They are Governors Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), Ramalan Yero (Kaduna), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Theodore Orji (Abia), Ibrahim Dankwanbo (Gombe), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Willie Obiano (Anambra) and Idris Wada (Kogi),
Others include Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Dr. Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Acting Governor of Taraba State, Garba Umar as well as Deputy Governors of Bayelsa and Kebbi states. The Ondo state governor, Olusegun Mimiko of the Labour Party walked into the venue of the meeting few minutes after it started.
There were also Director-General of State Security Service (SSS), Ita Ekpeyong; Minister of Interior, Abba Moro; National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.
President Jonathan had earlier in the day, held a National Security Council meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff, Security Chiefs, Inspector General of Police, Director-General of SSS and Director-General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
The President, members of the National Security Council and the state governors are expected to review the security situation in the country as well as ongoing national security measures and operations with a view to determining the best way forward.
The meeting with governors is still in progress….More details later
