Jonathan Explains Why He Returned on Ivorian Jet After Bissau Unrest
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has clarified why he returned to Nigeria aboard an Ivorian aircraft following the political turmoil in Guinea-Bissau, saying President Bola Tinubu had also activated an evacuation plan but the Ivorian team secured clearance first.
Jonathan, who travelled to Bissau as Head of the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission, spoke in an interview with Symfoni posted on YouTube on Friday—his first public comments since gunfire erupted around key state institutions, sparking fears of an attempted coup.
He said he felt a need to address Nigerians directly “to thank them for the show of empathy and encouragement,” adding that he was aware of the widespread national concern.
“While we were in Bissau and this so-called coup happened, the information we got was that the whole Country was agitated, young and old, irrespective of religious or political divides,” Jonathan said.
The former President revealed that both President Tinubu and Côte d’Ivoire’s President Alassane Ouattara had arranged aircraft to evacuate him and his team. However, the Ivorian jet received landing approval ahead of Nigeria’s due to what Jonathan described as stronger operational ties between Francophone and Lusophone Nations.
“Both Presidents were to send aircraft to lift us, but somehow Côte d’Ivoire is closer to Guinea-Bissau, and there’s always some relationship between the Francophone Countries and the Lusophones,” he explained.
“They were able to penetrate the system to get a landing permit before Nigeria could do that. So the Ivorian aircraft was already on its way to pick us up.”
Jonathan said that a Nigerian jet eventually secured clearance but was asked to stand down.
“So when we learnt that the Nigerian aircraft was about leaving, we asked them not to bother. That is why, if you see the pictures, I was brought back by an Ivorian aircraft,” he said.
He concluded by thanking Presidents Tinubu and Ouattara, as well as Nigerians “young and old,” for their concern during the tense episode.
