By Comfort Asemota
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has clarified why he returned to Nigeria aboard an Ivorian aircraft following the recent political unrest in Guinea-Bissau, explaining that President Bola Tinubu had also arranged a jet, but Côte d’Ivoire secured landing clearance first.
Jonathan, who was in Guinea-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 comment since gunfire erupted around key government installations, sparking fears of a possible coup.
He said he felt it was necessary to address the public “to thank Nigerians for the show of empathy and encouragement,” acknowledging the anxiety that spread after initial reports of the unrest.
“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 Jonathan, both President Tinubu and Côte d’Ivoire’s President Alassane Ouattara made arrangements to evacuate him and his delegation. The Ivorian aircraft, however, secured landing approval earlier due to what he described as strong regional ties.
“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 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. 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 explained.
Jonathan added that while the Ivorian jet was already en route, he was later informed that Nigeria had also received clearance to deploy its aircraft.
“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 by an Ivorian aircraft,” he said.
The former president expressed gratitude to both West African leaders and to Nigerians for their concern during the tense period.
“So we thank the two presidents—President Ouattara and President Tinubu—and indeed thank Nigerians, young and old, for that,” he said.
