UPDATE: Transition: Jonathan, Buhari in closed-door meeting

This was the second time Buhari and Jonathan would meet after the former defeated the latter in the March 28 presidential election. The first meeting was on April 3. The president-elect arrived for today’s meeting at 3.05pm in company of the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Odigie Oyegun and a stalwart […]

This was the second time Buhari and Jonathan would meet after the former defeated the latter in the March 28 presidential election. The first meeting was on April 3.

The president-elect arrived for today’s meeting at 3.05pm in company of the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Odigie Oyegun and a stalwart of the party, General Abdulrahman Dambazau, among others.

Buhari, who put on a white ‘babariga’, was driven to the venue of the meeting in a black Toyota Land Cruiser marked ABC 329 KJ and was received by Jonathan’s Principal Secretary Hassan Tukur.

Minutes before the president-elect arrived for the meeting, Jonathan had left his office for the venue.

Rising from the meeting which lasted 35 minutes, Jonathan and Buhari refused to disclose the details of their discussion.

But our correspondent gathered that they met to fine-tune arrangements for the May 29 handover programme.

Speaking to State House correspondents, Jonathan explained that they met to continue their conversation.

Asked to clarify what they were actually conversing about, the president simply said the parley was in the interest of the country.

“I will not tell you, but for the interest of the country”, the president insisted.

He also stated that he and Buhari would later pick a date when he (Jonathan) would formally take the president-elect round the State House.

The president also parried a question on how their discussion went by saying: “But you see that we are smiling”.

The following conversation ensued between Jonathan and journalists:

Jonathan: Thank you gentlemen, we have nothing to tell you today. Formally, we will take a date when the president (Buhari) will come and I will show him round the State House. But today is not for that. Today, we are continuing with our conversation. So, we don’t need to worry the president (Buhari), you don’t need to also worry the president, (referring to himself)”.

Journalists: How did the conversation go?

Jonathan: But you see that we are smiling.

Journalists: So, the meeting was fruitful?

Jonathan: Yes.

Journalists: What exactly did you discuss?

Jonathan: I will not tell you, but the meeting was for the interest of the country.

Buhari also parried when asked to explain the purpose of his visit to Jonathan. He said: “The president (Jonathan) has said it all”

Buhari’s entourage could not help laughing as journalists engaged him and Jonathan.

It would be recalled that the presidential inauguration planning committee, co-chaired by Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim and former Bayelsa State Governor Sylva Timipre, had on Thursday rolled out a one-week transition programme.

The programme included Juma’at service, inter-denominational ‎church service, inauguration dinner, ‎swearing-in ceremony, launch and a gala night‎.