President Goodluck Jonathan

By Muhammad Bello

President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo Friday held a secluded meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly.

Although the agenda of the meeting was not made public, THISDAY learnt that issues bordering on the yet-to-be signed 2013 Budget dominated the emergency meeting.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, was however absent at the two-hour meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President of the Senate, David Mark, led the National Assembly delegation that included Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, and the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha.

Reporters who approached Mark to comment on the outcome of the meeting were disappointed. Instead of answering questions put to him, Mark walked briskly towards his car and referred journalists to the duo of Ekweremadu and Ihedioha. The two men swiftly got into their cars.

When reporters accused him of always failing to speak with them after meetings with the President, Mark said amidst laughter, “when next I come here, I promise to deal with you directly. This is a promise from me.”