Former President Goodluck Jonathan has shed light on the events surrounding his return to Nigeria aboard an aircraft provided by Côte d’Ivoire, following the political turmoil that erupted in Guinea-Bissau earlier in the week.
Speaking in an interview with Symfoni posted on YouTube on Friday, his first public comments since the incident stirred widespread concern, Jonathan explained the sequence of decisions that led to his evacuation.
Jonathan had travelled to Guinea-Bissau as the head of the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission.
He said the unrest in Bissau created significant anxiety back home, prompting him to address Nigerians directly to acknowledge their support and concern.
He disclosed that both President Bola Tinubu and Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara quickly deployed aircraft to extract him and his team after reports of gunfire and potential instability emerged.
According to the former president, the Ivorian aircraft secured landing clearance ahead of Nigeria’s due to long-standing regional dynamics that eased coordination.
Côte d’Ivoire’s closeness to Guinea-Bissau, as well as the strong relationships among Francophone and Lusophone countries, helped speed up approval for the jet to enter Bissau’s airspace.
By the time Nigeria received similar clearance, the Ivorian aircraft was already en route.
Jonathan said that once he was informed that Nigeria had finally been granted approval, he and his team chose not to interfere with the Ivorian evacuation already in progress.
“That is why, if you look at the images from our return, you will see that we came in on an Ivorian aircraft,” he said.
He used the moment to express gratitude to both Tinubu and Ouattara, noting that their prompt actions reflected their commitment to his safety and to regional solidarity.
“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 thanked Nigerians from all walks of life, acknowledging the widespread concern that followed early reports of the unrest.
