Former President Goodluck Jonathan has explained why he returned to Nigeria on an Ivorian aircraft during the recent political instability in Guinea-Bissau, stating that President Bola Tinubu had also planned to dispatch a jet before Côte d’Ivoire obtained an earlier landing permit.
Jonathan, who was in the country as chairman of the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission, spoke with Symfoni in an interview broadcast on YouTube on Friday, his first public statement since gunfire erupted around major government buildings in Bissau, sparking speculation of a coup.
He claimed he felt impelled to speak “to thank Nigerians for the show of empathy and encouragement” after the incident, noting that he was aware of the national anxiety that followed the reports.
“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,” he said.
According to him, Tinubu and Côte d’Ivoire’s President Alassane Ouattara made plans to evacuate him and his delegation from Bissau.
However, the Ivorian team received landing clearance first, owing to what he described as greater regional relations.
“And I sincerely appreciate Nigerians, and I want them to hear directly from my mouth that I appreciate their concern. And secondly, to thank my president, President Tinubu, and the Ivorian president, President Ouattara.
“Both presidents were to send aircraft to lift us, but somehow you know Côte d’Ivoire is closer to Guinea-Bissau, and there’s always some relationship between the Francophone countries and the Lusophones, who are among the Francophones.
“They were able to penetrate their system to get a landing permit before Nigeria could do that. So the Ivorian aircraft was already on its way to pick us up,” he said.
He explained that Côte d’Ivoire’s aircraft was already en route when he was informed that the Nigerian jet had received approval to depart.
“So when we learned that the Nigerian aircraft were about to leave, we asked them not to bother. That is why, if you see the pictures, I was brought by an Ivorian aircraft,” he said.
Jonathan praised the two West African presidents “and indeed Nigerians, young and old” for their care during the incident.
“So we thank the two presidents, President Wachara and President Tinubu, and indeed thank Nigerians, young and old, for that,” he said.
