Tambuwal shuns meeting with Jonathan over 2013 budget

President Goodluck Jonathan held an emergency meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly over the 2013 budget on Friday.
The closed-doors meeting, which lasted two hours, was attended by the President of the Senate, David Mark; his Deputy, Ike Ekwerenmadu; and Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives Emeka Ihedioha.
However, conspicuously absent was the Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.
Mark declined to speak with correspondents after the meeting.
It was however gathered that the jaw-jaw session was convened by President Jonathan to iron out grey areas in the recently passed 2013 budget so he could give presidential assent as soon as possible.
Jonathan hurriedly flew home on Thursday night from Davos, Switzerland where he was attending the World Economic Forum. He was earlier billed to fly straight to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from Davos to attend the African Union Summit. Pressed by newsmen to speak, Mark had this to say: “When next I come here, I promise to deal with you directly.
“This is a promise from me.”