₦airaland Forum

Former President Jonathan Explains Why He Left Guinea Bissau on Ivorian Aircraft

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has explained why he departed Guinea Bissau on a plane from Côte d’Ivoire instead of a Nigerian aircraft.

He expressed his gratitude to both President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria and President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire, saying, “I want to thank my President, President Tinubu, and the Ivorian President, Alassane Ouattara. Both presidents were to send aircraft to lift us.”

Jonathan explained that logistical and diplomatic considerations influenced the decision: “Côte d’Ivoire is closer to Guinea Bissau, and there’s a relationship between Francophone and Lusophone countries, which enabled Côte d’Ivoire to get a landing permit before Nigeria could.”

He added, “So we asked the Nigerian government not to bother since the Ivorian aircraft had already arrived,” clarifying that the decision was based on convenience and timing, rather than preference.

TITOPE:
https://www.titopeblog.com/2025/11/former-president-jonathan-explains-why.html

Former President Jonathan Explains Why He Left Guinea Bissau on Ivorian Aircraft

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has explained why he departed Guinea Bissau on a plane from Côte d’Ivoire instead of a Nigerian aircraft.

He expressed his gratitude to both President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria and President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire, saying, “I want to thank my President, President Tinubu, and the Ivorian President, Alassane Ouattara. Both presidents were to send aircraft to lift us.”

Jonathan explained that logistical and diplomatic considerations influenced the decision: “Côte d’Ivoire is closer to Guinea Bissau, and there’s a relationship between Francophone and Lusophone countries, which enabled Côte d’Ivoire to get a landing permit before Nigeria could.”

He added, “So we asked the Nigerian government not to bother since the Ivorian aircraft had already arrived,” clarifying that the decision was based on convenience and timing, rather than preference.

magoo10:
Jonathan hasn't learnt or he just wants to patronize the tinubu government.
If it were the other way round the people in government today will use it to discredit jonathan.
characters in the league of Reno and co will have dished hatred and propaganda to deceive light minded followers.

JustAvo:
Na u never actually under Dr. Jonathan... The Laptop boys made it look like they saved the day and will gladly dig it out shd Dr Jonathan decide to seek reelection against their principal - he is setting the records straight with this statement of his', if anything, his statement in my opinion is prove the man is personally very much interested in seeking office again.

magoo10:
Jonathan hasn't learnt or he just wants to patronize the tinubu government.
If it were the other way round the people in government today will use it to discredit jonathan.
characters in the league of Reno and co will have dished hatred and propaganda to deceive light minded followers.

Burob:
Even after the truth, u still choose to deny the facts.

Christmyhope:
And some depraved people were heaping insults on each other with so much bitterness and hatred in the name of politics. Thanks, Goodluck Jonathan for providing clarification.

Burob:
Even after the truth, u still choose to deny the facts.

Burob:
Don’t just yap for yapping sake, the least u should have tried to do, is make sense.

ElSudani:
They don't care about facts.

magoo10:
Jonathan hasn't learnt or he just wants to patronize the tinubu government.
If it were the other way round the people in government today will use it to discredit jonathan.
characters in the league of Reno and co will have dished hatred and propaganda to deceive light minded followers.

magoo10:
you are not saying anything .if Jonathan had decamped to APC you wouldn't have heard he was stranded in the first place..
The real truth here is that Nigeria is no longer giant of africa courstsey of the APC government.
Whether francophone,lusophone or telephone Nigeria before is not what it is today .
If America can cross all the oceans ,deserts and come for her citizens who is less an official how about a Nigerian valued citizen who is just within Africa.
If Jonathan had died there you will be yapping (let me borrow your language)trash and be calling it truth.Shame

Kog45:
Oga rest,GEJ said the truth

magoo10:
Jonathan hasn't learnt or he just wants to patronize the tinubu government.
If it were the other way round the people in government today will use it to discredit jonathan.
characters in the league of Reno and co will have dished hatred and propaganda to deceive light minded followers.

Lanretoye:
your own rufai did otherwise na.

Thank you so much.

You know since I left office I've always been scared talking to the media but in this particular case I decided to speak to the media.

First and foremost to thank Nigerians for the show of empathy, the encouragement, because while we are in Bisau and this so-called coup happened the information we got was that the whole country was agitated young and old irrespective of religious divides 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 aircrafts to lift us, but somehow, you know, Cote D'Ivoire is closer to Guinea Bisau and there's always some relationship between Francophone countries and the Lusophone among the Francophone. They were able to penetrate their system to get landing permit first before Nigeria could do that. So the Ivorian aircraft was already on their way to pick us. So when we learned about the Nigerian aircraft was about leaving, we asked them not to bother. That is why if you see the picture, I was brought by an Ivorian aircraft.

So we thank the two presidents President Ouattara and President Tinubu and indeed thank Nigerians, young and old for that .

Kog45:
Despite the clarification you're still talking nonsense,Nawa o

magoo10:
Jonathan hasn't learnt or he just wants to patronize the tinubu government.
If it were the other way round the people in government today will use it to discredit jonathan.
characters in the league of Reno and co will have dished hatred and propaganda to deceive light minded followers.