Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GEJ, has shared why he returned to Nigeria aboard an Ivorian aircraft. This comes after the recent political unrest in Guinea-Bissau that left him stranded.
Speaking during an interview with Symfoni that was posted on YouTube, GEJ, who was in the country as head of the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission, revealed that President Bola Tinubu had prepared to dispatch a jet before Côte d’Ivoire secured a landing permit.
According to him, while both President Tinubu and Côte d’Ivoire’s President Alassane Ouattara made arrangements to evacuate him and his delegation from Bissau, the Ivorian team secured landing clearance first due to their stronger regional links.
He appreciated Nigerians for the show of empathy and encouragement while he was stranded, stating 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.
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, 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 further noted that Côte d’Ivoire’s aircraft was already en route when he was informed that the Nigerian jet had received approval to depart.
GEJ concluded by thanking the two West African leaders and fellow citizens for their concern during the episode.
“So when we learnt that the Nigerian aircraft were about leaving, we asked them not to bother. That is why, if you see the pictures, I was brought by an Ivorian aircraft.
So we thank the two presidents, President Wachara and President Tinubu, and indeed thank Nigerians, young and old, for that,” he added.
