Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, was on Wednesday absent at a meeting President Goodluck Jonathan had with the leadership of the National Assembly and the members of the Peoples Democratic Party’s National Working Committee.
As at the time the President arrived at the venue of the meeting held inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja at about 9pm, none of the leaders of the House of Representatives expected at the meeting was in attendance.
But the President of the Senate, David Mark; his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu; Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba; and Senator Hosea Agboola were there.
Shortly after the President entered to signal the commencement of the meeting, his Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Senator Joy Emordi, came out and made frantic telephone calls.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Emeka Ihediora, later arrived the premises and Emordi led him inside.
Some minutes later, Emordi returned outside to resume her frantic calls.
National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, led members of the NWC to the meeting.
Deputy National Chairman, Sam Jaja; National Women Leader, Kema Chikwe and National Publicity Secretary, Olisah Metuh also attended.
On the President’s team were Vice President Namadi Sambo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim; Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhle and the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Ahmed Gulak.
Although the agenda of the meeting was not made public, insiders said issues bothering on the differences between the Executive and the Legislature on the yet-to-be signed 2013 budget would be addressed at the meeting.
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Source: Punch
