KEY POINTS
• The Jonathan safety update prompted swift diplomatic engagement.
• Lawmakers urged the government to act on the Jonathan safety update.
• Regional bodies increased pressure as the Jonathan safety update emerged.
The Nigerian government has verified that former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is secure and has departed Guinea-Bissau following a military coup that disrupted the nation’s governmental authority. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced his departure on a chartered flight accompanied by members of his entourage, including Mohamed Chambas, after several days of unrest in the West African nation.
Jonathan safety update follows coup
Jonathan traveled to Guinea-Bissau as the leader of the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission for the presidential and legislative elections conducted last Sunday. His visit coincided with the military’s declaration of its assumption of governmental authority, an event that elicited apprehensions throughout the region and in Abuja.
The House of Representatives issued a warning earlier this week, urging President Bola Tinubu’s administration to undertake decisive diplomatic measures to save Jonathan. Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu highlighted the issue during the plenary, characterizing it as a “significant emergency.” Legislators urged the administration to guarantee Jonathan’s safety and facilitate his swift return.
House Leader Julius Ihonvbere informed the house of Jonathan’s performance as an election observer in nations including Zimbabwe, Liberia, Ghana, Mozambique, Pakistan, Tanzania, and South Africa. He informed colleagues that Jonathan had been unable to depart Guinea-Bissau due to the interruption. He stated that the government was cognizant of the situation and was endeavoring to ensure Jonathan’s safe exit. Ihonvbere implored Abuja to sustain pressure and utilize all diplomatic avenues to repatriate the former president.
Regional concern grows over Jonathan safety
According to Punch, minority Leader Kingsley Chinda endorsed the appeal. He characterized Jonathan as one of Nigeria’s most formidable civilian leaders, asserting that his safety should be regarded with equal importance to that of every Nigerian experiencing adversity, whether domestically or internationally. Chinda expressed his unequivocal support for the call for prompt diplomatic intervention.
Legislators unanimously passed a resolution directing the Federal Government to initiate the requisite measures for Jonathan’s removal and to guarantee his safety until normalcy is restored in Guinea-Bissau.
The political disintegration intensified on Wednesday when military officials declared that they had taken “complete control” of the nation. They announced the arrest of President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, the suspension of the electoral process, and the sealing of the country’s borders. Their message referenced national instability, apprehensions regarding electoral irregularities, and the necessity to reestablish order.
