When Dr Goodluck Jonathan, former President of Nigeria, returned to Abuja on Thursday after being trapped in Guinea-Bissau during a military putsch, he waved off the change of government in that country as “ceremonial”. That is, it was choreographed by President Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco Embaló and the Armed Forces of that country.
“What happened was not a coup — maybe a ceremonial one,” Jonathan said. “Two things made it bizarre: it was President Embaló himself who first announced it, and while this ‘coup’ was happening, he was using his phone to address media organisations across the world, saying he had been arrested. I’m a Nigerian close to 70, I know how heads of state are kept when a coup takes place. This one does not fit.”
“I feel more pain than the day I called Buhari to congratulate him in 2015,” he said. “Guinea-Bissau was in crisis. I worked physically with them. I saw a military man walk into the office of a prime minister and slap him. Now, it looks like we’re going back to those dark days.”
“Nobody gave a contrary report. Counting was smooth, security behaved, electoral officials were professional,” he said. “The results were ready. They were collating them in the capital. Then suddenly, the president announced a coup and claimed he was arrested — yet nobody arrested him.”
He urged ECOWAS and the African Union to immediately publish the authentic election results already collated before the disruption.
Speaking with journalists at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, Jonathan, who rarely grants unscheduled media interviews, said he broke his silence “to thank Nigerians for the show of empathy” during the tense hours of uncertainty in Bissau.
“Since I left office, I’ve always been scared talking to the media,” he said, “But in this particular case, I decided to speak. First, to thank Nigerians. 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. I sincerely appreciate Nigerians.”
Jonathan, who was part of a joint observer mission deployed by the AU, ECOWAS, and the West African Elders Forum to monitor the presidential and legislative polls, revealed that both President Bola Tinubu and Côte d’Ivoire’s President Alassane Ouattara had prepared aircraft to evacuate him and his delegation at the height of the tension.
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“I thank President Tinubu and President Ouattara; both presidents were to send aircraft to lift us,” he said, adding that their swift intervention showed that “Africa still has leaders committed to protecting democratic processes.”
He dismissed reports that President Umaro Sissoco Embaló was toppled in a military coup, insisting that the scenario did not fit the classic definition of a forceful takeover.
Jonathan then issued a direct charge to ECOWAS and the AU: “My conviction is this: ECOWAS and the AU must announce the results. They have them. They were in all the regions. They cannot change those results. They owe the world that responsibility.”
He recalled taking a similar stance as ECOWAS Chair in 2010 when he insisted that Alassane Ouattara be recognised as the winner of Côte d’Ivoire’s election despite Laurent Gbagbo’s refusal.
“Leadership must be courageous. You don’t need to send soldiers; just announce who won. Let the world know the truth.”
Reacting to ECOWAS’ suspension of Guinea-Bissau from decision-making bodies, Jonathan said the move was routine.
“It is traditional. Once protocols changed, ECOWAS agreed we must not return to military rule. So any country where the military interferes is suspended. It is normal.”
He also downplayed fears about the shrinking membership of ECOWAS.
“Even if five countries remain, let them continue. ECOWAS must stand firm. In time, these military regimes will collapse under their own weight; they won’t last more than 10 years.”
Jonathan urged the regional bloc to shift toward becoming more citizen-focused by supporting young people, businesses, and students to keep the community attractive.
Expressing disappointment in President Embaló, a retired military officer and immediate past ECOWAS chair, Jonathan said he expected him to prevent, rather than foment crisis.
“It is painful. He was the chair of ECOWAS. He has military connections. He should be the one to prevent any coup. His tenure was already ending — why organise something that looks like a coup against yourself?”
He also demanded the unconditional release of opposition leader Fernando Dias.
“They have to release the man. He has not committed any offence. He didn’t declare himself president. There is no basis to restrict him.”
Jonathan noted that Bissau’s rapid development in recent years showed why the country must not be dragged backwards.
On when Guinea-Bissau might return to civilian governance, he said, “Nobody can say. Look at Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali — they haven’t returned. But even if the military stays, two things must happen immediately: release Fernando Dias and announce the real election results. Tell the world the truth. That’s the only way forward.”
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