Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
Why I Returned to Nigeria on Côte d’Ivoire Aircraft After Guinea-Bissau Unrest – Jonathan
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has explained the circumstances surrounding his evacuation from Guinea-Bissau aboard an aircraft deployed by Côte d’Ivoire, following the political unrest in the West African country earlier this week.
Speaking in an interview with Symfoni, posted on YouTube on Friday, Jonathan gave his first public reaction to the incident, which sparked nationwide concern. The former president had travelled to Bissau as head of the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission when reports of gunfire and instability emerged.
Jonathan disclosed that both President Bola Tinubu and Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara immediately mobilised aircraft to evacuate him and his delegation after news of the crisis filtered out. However, Côte d’Ivoire’s aircraft secured landing clearance ahead of Nigeria due to longstanding regional coordination dynamics.
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He explained that the proximity of Côte d’Ivoire to Guinea-Bissau, combined with the close ties among Francophone and Lusophone states, helped fast-track approval for the Ivorian jet to enter Bissau’s airspace. By the time Nigeria received similar clearance, the Ivorian aircraft was already en route.
Jonathan said this prompted his team to proceed with the evacuation already in motion.
“That is why, if you look at the images from our return, you will see that we came in on an Ivorian aircraft,” he noted.
The former president expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their concern and praised both Tinubu and Ouattara for acting swiftly to ensure his safety.
“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,” he said.
Jonathan also commended citizens across political, ethnic and religious divides for the solidarity shown during the episode, describing it as evidence of the empathy and unity Nigerians demonstrate in difficult moments.
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