Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has provided clarification regarding his evacuation from Guinea-Bissau following the recent military takeover in the West African nation. The former president found himself trapped in the country while monitoring presidential elections when soldiers seized power.
The Dual Evacuation Offers
According to Jonathan's explanation, both Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire dispatched aircraft to evacuate him and other individuals caught in the political crisis. The military coup occurred on Wednesday, November 26, while Jonathan was serving as an election observer alongside other African leaders.
The former president expressed gratitude to both President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria and President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d'Ivoire for their swift response to the emergency situation. Both leaders had authorized evacuation flights to rescue the stranded delegation.
Why Côte d'Ivoire Aircraft Was Preferred
Jonathan revealed that the crucial factor in his decision was the timing of landing permits. The Côte d'Ivoire aircraft secured its landing authorization first due to existing diplomatic relationships between Francophone and Lusophone countries in the region.
"So we asked the Nigerian government not to bother since the Ivorian aircraft had already arrived," Jonathan stated in a viral video that has been circulating on social media platforms. This practical decision was made to ensure the quickest possible evacuation from the unstable situation.
Nigerian Public Reaction
The revelation has sparked various reactions among Nigerians, with many commenting on the incident through social media platforms:
One commentator, Sistaliano, criticized media coverage of the initial reports: "I hope one day Arise TV and its unprofessional crew will not set this country on fire... what Arise TV is doing is not journalism. It is reckless provocation disguised as news."
Another respondent, Ubong Abia, noted: "Ivory Coast acted swiftly, and has good relations with Guinea-Bissau. Simple. Even if Ivory Coast's plane was closer, Nigeria ought to have told them to stand down."
Oshoja emphasized the need for national unity: "Glad to hear from our former president, and some people have already turned this into an agenda. We really need to work on our patriotism to our nation for real."
Olaniyi Okewole called for more responsible journalism: "I wish our sensational journalists would be more unbiased and circumspect in their coverage and reporting. We can't afford to put the nation on fire because of clear bias and hate."
Emmanuel Adegbulu appreciated the international cooperation: "I love the teamwork from both countries, thanks to the Ivory Coast president as well as our amiable president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu."
Background: Guinea-Bissau Political Crisis
The political situation in Guinea-Bissau escalated when military forces arrested President Umaro Embalo and several government officials during the uprising. The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs had strongly condemned the military takeover, describing it as a setback for the region and demanding immediate restoration of constitutional governance.
West Africa has been experiencing repeated disruptions to democratic processes in recent years, making this latest incident particularly concerning for regional stability and the future of democratic governance in the area.
