Jonathan, Buhari in private meeting as jonathan says Nigeria owes Shonekan for contributions to National development

As part of the preparation for the hand over, President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday night met with the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

The meeting was held behind closed-doors inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting was said to be a private one, hence there was no media presence.President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday night met behind closed doors with the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari.
The meeting was held inside the President’s office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
That was the third time the two leaders would be meeting after the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Buhari winner of the March 28 presidential election.
The Wednesday meeting, just like the first one they had on a public holiday (Good Friday), was described as “private” and so it was not opened to journalists.
Buhari was said to have arrived for the meeting in a convoy of about four cars at about 9pm.
The meeting was said to have lasted less than 30 minutes.
Although there was no official communication on the meeting, it might not be unconnected with the ongoing transition programmes and preparation for Buhari’s inauguration on May 29.
At the end of their second meeting, Jonathan had told State House correspondents that a date would be picked during which he would conduct Buhari round the Presidential Villa before his inauguration day.
When contacted, the Director of Media and Publicity of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Mallam Garba Shehu, said although he heard there was a meeting, he could not confirm it.
He said, “I heard there was a meeting but I have no idea where or when it held or what was discussed.”
However, it was learnt that the little or no progress being made by the transition committees they both set up might be the major agenda of the meeting.
It will be recalled that the President’s Political Adviser, Prof. Rufai Alkali, had in a statement he issued in Abuja, on Wednesday told the APC that it could not stampede Jonathan out of office.
He accused the APC of failing to set up its transition committee long after the President had constituted his own.
In response, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, accused the presidential adviser of being economical with the truth.
This, he said, was because the President’s transition team had been stalling and refusing to meet with that of the president-elect.

Jonathan says Nigeria owes Shonekan for contributions to national development
President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday said Nigeria owed Chief Ernest Shonekan, former Head of Interim National Government, a huge debt of gratitude for his contributions to national development. The president said this in a release issued by his Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, to felicitate with Shonekan on his 79th birth anniversary.
 “On behalf of my family, the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I write to felicitate with you on the occasion of your 79th birthday anniversary. “Over the years, you have always readily given of yourself to the cause of peace, stability, growth and development in our country, Nigeria. “For this, we owe you an enduring debt of gratitude,” he said.
The release said Jonathan wished Shonekan ‘’a very happy birthday and prayed that God Almighty will continue to guide and bless him’’. Similarly, the president congratulated Chief Jim Nwobodo, former governor of old Anambra, on his 75th birthday. In a congratulatory letter, Jonathan said that Nwobodo had every cause to celebrate and thank God Almighty for His benevolence.
“In a life that has seen you reach the apex of your entrepreneurial, public service and political endeavours, there is great cause for you. ‘’Members of your family, your many associates, protégés and well-wishers should thank Almighty God for His benevolence upon you. “As you deservedly celebrate this landmark, it is my prayer that Almighty God continues to bless you with robust health and many more years of happiness,” Jonathan stated.