Jonathan Meets Tinubu, Briefs Him On Guinea-Bissau Coup

Former President Goodluck Jonathan was received by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Saturday.

This was made known by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Recall that Jonathan had just returned to Nigeria from Guinea-Bissau.

The former President was in the West African country on an election monitoring mission.

There were concerns about his safety following a military takeover in Guinea-Bissau.

Speaking to State House correspondents, Jonathan said he was at the presidential villa to brief President Tinubu on his recent assignment to Guinea-Bissau.

He said: “That election was concluded, the results are known, and the winner of the election must be announced… ECOWAS leadership should reach out to the military leadership to release the opposition leader and announce the result.

“The person who won the election should be inaugurated as the President of the country.”

Recall that Jonathan had, in an interview on Friday, insisted that the recent military takeover in Guinea-Bissau “was not a coup,” describing the developments in Bissau as “maybe a ceremonial coup.”

His comments came barely 48 hours after heavy gunfire erupted around key government institutions in Bissau on Wednesday, when soldiers announced they had taken “total control” of the country.

At the heart of the crisis, ex-President Umaro Sissoco Embaló disclosed that he was arrested in his office at the presidential palace, triggering fear and confusion across Bissau.

Following the arrest, the military imposed a nighttime curfew, suspended the electoral process, and shut the country’s borders.

Several senior government officials, including security, military, and interior ministry figures, were also detained during the cordon of government institutions.

Nigeria had condemned the incident in strong terms, calling it “a serious threat to democracy and regional stability,” while confirming that Jonathan had been evacuated safely.

Jonathan had been in the country leading the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission ahead of the November 23 presidential and legislative elections, before the takeover disrupted the declaration of election results.