Jonathan Speaks On His Alleged Abandonment In Guinea Bisua By Tinubu, Reveals Why Cote D’Ivoire Rescued Him
Former Nigerian president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has given insight into what what transpired in Guinea Bisua, highlighting the military takeover of leadership in the country amidst the country’s presidential and legislative elections.
Goodluck Jonathan was among the election observers for African Union (AU), Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS), and the West African Elders Forum who were in Guinea Bisua to monitor the country’s presidential and legislative elections.
While the election was ongoing, the country’s military on Wednesday declared that it has completely taken over the country’s government, citing irregularities in the election. The military authority declared that it has suspended all electoral process and that the country’s borders have been closed.
As a result, Goodluck Jonathan and other foreign observers were trapped in Guinea Bisua.
While speaking to newsmen following his arrival to Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport in Abuja, Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan expressed his profound gratitude to Nigerians, the Nigerian authority and to the government of Cote D’Ivoire.
The former president while sharing his experience in Guinea Bisua, stated that he is aware of the Nigerians genuine concern for his safety and their calls for his rescue on and offline.
“And I sincerely appreciate Nigerians, and I want them to hear directly from my mouth, to appreciate their concern. And secondly, to thank my president, President Tinubu and the President of Ivory Coast”.
Talking about the atmosphere in Guinea Bisua following the military takeover, Goodluck Jonathan said that the people of Guinea Bisua irrespective of the tribe, religious and age, appeared agitated about the development.
“The information we got was that the whole country was agitated, young and old, irrespective of religious divides or political divides”.
Speaking on while it was the government of Cote D’Ivoire that facilitated his safe return to Nigeria from Guinea Bisua and not the Nigeria’s government, Goodluck Jonathan acknowledged the efforts of the two nations, revealing that the Nigeria’s government sought clearance from the new military government and that its aircraft was about to leave Nigeria to Guinea Bisua but due to the proximity of Cote D’Ivoire to Guinea Bisua and the friendlier relationship that exist among Francophone counties, the Cote D’Ivoire aircraft was approved for landing by the military authority.
“Both presidents were to send aircraft to lift us, but somehow, Ivory Coast is closer to Guinea-Bissau, and there’s always some relationship between Francophone countries, and they were able to penetrate their system to get a landing permit before Nigeria did”.
He added that while he has already been evacuated from the country, he learnt that the Nigeria’s aircraft was about to be on its way to the Guineas Bissau but that they informed them not to bother as they already have left Guinea Bisua
“The Ivorian aircraft was already on its way to Bissau when we learned about the Nigerian aircraft about to depart, we asked them not to bother.”
Goodluck Jonathan thereafter thanked the Cote D’Ivoire and Nigerian authority profusely, referring to Tinubu as “my president”.
There were speculations about president Bola Ahmed Tinubu being hesitant about sending aircraft to Guinea Bisua to rescue former president Jonathan. The speculators attributed this to Goodluck Jonathan’s rumoured 2027 presidential ambition, accusing president Tinubu of engaging in politics of hate and bitterness.
