APC defends absence from security meeting

The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied reports its Governors shunned the expanded National Security Council meeting President Goodluck Jonathan called to review the security situation in the country.

In a statement issued in Lagos by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party claimed its Governors were given the impression that the meeting had been called off, hence they did not attend.

''On Wednesday, the Presidency called the Chief Detail of the Kwara State Government to say that the meeting has been called off. On the basis of this information, which apparently got to other Governors under the aegis of the APC, our Governors did not attend.

''Now that the meeting has been held, it is incumbent on the Presidency to launch an investigation into the source of the call to the Kwara State Government and what the call was meant to achieve.

''Irrespective of the totally unfounded and absolutely irresponsible allegation that the APC is behind the escalating security situation, our party will not shy away from any serious effort to end the terrorist attacks in our country. Therefore, it is not true that our Governors shunned the meeting with the President,'' APC said