Buhari, Obasanjo, Amaechi in attendance as Jonathan presides over last Council of State meeting as president

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday in Abuja presided over the National Council of State with Vice-President Namadi Sambo and all former Heads of State and Presidents in attendance.
It was his last meeting as president.
Those present at the meeting include President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Shehu Shagari and Gen. Yakubu Gowon.
Others were Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan and Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar as well as some retired Chief Justices of the federation.
Also present were some former Chief Justices of Nigeria, Senate President David Mark and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.
Among the governors are Rotimi Amechi of Rivers and Jonah Jang of Plateau.
The Council urged the incoming Buhari administration to develop viable solutions to the persistent clashes between farmers and herdsmen in the country.
Addressing State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting, Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State said already, a document had been prepared by the council to address the menace.
“The issue of the clashes between the herdsmen and the farmers in various parts of the country was also addressed and the way forward.
“Actually, the report that was presented by the Economic Council under my chairmanship as relates to issue of grazing and what the Federal Government needs to do in order to address that will be presented to the incoming president so that he will act on it since there is no time for the present administration to do that.’’
According to him, the prepared document states what needs to be done that will reduce the clashes.
He recalled that a decision was taken at one of the National Economic Council (NEC) meetings on how government could reduce the clashes and gradually domesticate the herdsmen.
“We can domesticate them in ranches. That document stated clearly how the Central Bank and the Ministry of Agriculture ‎can act.
“And many of the herdsmen are now willing to be domesticated.’’
Suswam said the council expressed concern that the clashes had resulted to the establishment of a number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in places like Niger, Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa.
“These are places you have incessant clashes between the herdsmen and farmers,’’ he said.
On the issue of insecurity in some parts of the country particularly the North-East region, Suswam said the National Security Adviser, who addressed the council, assured that the insurgency would soon be a thing of the past.
“But on the whole, the summary of what the NSA presented to council was to say that Nigeria is now better prepared than it was three years back in fighting any form of insurgency because outside the immediate surrounding countries, the international community has also keyed in to give serious assistance.
“So moving forward is not going to be like what happened before where these insurgents had a filled day, where our military was put in a bad light.
“Our military is well equipped now, there is better training for them to cope with terrorism. Terrorism was alien to this country and so once it came, we needed to counter the terrorists.
“But, the incoming administration will pick up from the solid foundation that has been laid in addressing security challenges.
“So, Nigerians should have confidence that insurgency will soon be a thing of the past and he (NSA) assured the Council of State that before May 29‎, at least, the enclaves, which is Sambisa forest, will be properly combed and annihilated and that will, at least, put paid to the incessant gorilla style attacked that have been raging in the past.’’
The Council also approved a template for the smooth inauguration of new government in the country.
Suswam disclosed that the approval of the template was meant to ensure uniformity in subsequent transitions in the country.
“The Council decided that, henceforth, there has to be a template that successive transitions will follow. We never had it, this is the first time that one is going to be developed so that subsequently there is no speculation as to what needs to be done, everything is in a template.
“Yes, if there is a transition whether is the same party to the same party, they follow the same template. If it is from one party to another party, the same template, this is the first time that it is being developed; you notice or recall that we never really have a template as what to follow, how we go about our transition. But what is going to happen this time around is going to be permanent for successive transitions.’’
Also addressing the correspondents on the outcome of the meeting, Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State said arrangements had been concluded for the smooth May 29 inauguration of the incoming Buhari administration.
He said invitations were extended to all heads of states and governments within and outside African continent to enable them to witness the event.
Aliyu said similar invitations were also extended to Prime Ministers of the G8, multilateral heads like the United Nations and the Commonwealth.
According to him, the council newly approved template for the May 29 inauguration indicates that Jonathan on May 28 will take the incoming president and the vice-president on tour of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“For activities on the template for this one, we said the May 22 will be for the Friday Prayer, May 24 will be Sunday Service, May 28 will be for both handing over of documents as well as dinner and May 29 apart from the inauguration, there will be a luncheon and there will be a gala night.’’
Aliyu stated that the Council frowned at the culture of “African time’’, saying such behaviour would not be entertained during the inauguration and beyond.
He said the council of state meeting would be the last under President Jonathan’s administration.