Video: Jonathan explains why he chose Ivorian aircraft over Nigeria after Guinea-Bissau coup
Goodluck Jonathan
Abdullateef Fowewe
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who was among African election observers trapped in Guinea-Bissau following a coup, explained why he departed the country on an aircraft from Côte d’Ivoire rather than Nigeria.
Video link: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1H6Dh2bDNz/
Jonathan an interview said, “I want to thank my President, President Tinubu, and the Ivorian President, Alassane Ouattara. Both presidents were to send aircraft to lift us, but Côte d’Ivoire is closer to Guinea Bissau, and there’s a relationship between Francophone and Lusophone countries, which enabled Côte d’Ivoire to get a landing permit before Nigeria could.”
He added, “So we asked the Nigerian government not to bother since the Ivorian aircraft had already arrived.”
The former president arrived safely at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport late Thursday after being stranded for two days due to a military takeover in Guinea-Bissau.
The coup occurred after both President Umaro Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias declared victory in the presidential election before official results were released.
Jonathan was part of a 36-member high-profile observer mission from the African Union, ECOWAS, and the West African Elders Forum monitoring Guinea-Bissau’s Sunday election.
He was warmly welcomed by supporters and officials upon arrival in Nigeria.
