By Johnbosco Agbakwuru
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari is currently presiding over the 32nd virtual Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Council meeting started immediately the President entered the chamber with the rendition of the national anthem.
A minute silence was observed in honour of two former members of the cabinet who died recently.
The former ministers were Alhaji Alfa Wali and Prince Tony Momoh.
Wali, a prominent Kano State indigene and former Minister of Agriculture, died on Monday, January 25th, 2021.
He also served as Permanent Secretary in many ministries, including the Ministry of Defence.
Prince Momoh was a veteran journalist and politician who was Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida, died February 1st at the age of 82.
Buhari had while commiserating with the family, the government and people of Kano State, urged them to take comfort in the legacy of kindness he ‘Wali’ left behind.
The President had also while condoling with the Momoh family said: “His brand of loyalty is very rare in the politics of today. I will greatly miss him.”
Buhari had also recalled that as chairman, Media and Publicity of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) Campaign Organisation in the 2003 and 2007 elections, Momoh ”contributed in no small measure to the growth and strengthening of the organisations.”
Buhari also noted that Late Momoh, who was also one time Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), contributions led to the eventual formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Physically present at the meeting are Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari and the National Security Adviser, NSA, Maj. Gen. Babagana Mongunu (retd) as well as seven ministers.
The ministers included Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite, and Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi,
Others are Ministers of Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo, Education, Adamu Adamu, Aviation, Hadi Sirika
The Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan and other ministers, however, participated online in the weekly council meeting from their various offices in Abuja.
