Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday visited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, days after his evacuation from Guinea-Bissau following a sudden military takeover in the West African nation.
Jonathan, who had travelled to Bissau as the head of the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission, was in the country to monitor last Sunday’s presidential and legislative polls when soldiers abruptly announced they had seized power.
The development sparked widespread concern about his safety, prompting regional diplomatic intervention to facilitate his return.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed the former President’s visit in a post on X, noting that President Tinubu received Jonathan shortly after his return to the country.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu received former President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa on Saturday on Jonathan’s return to Nigeria from Guinea-Bissau. President Jonathan went to the West African country on an election monitoring mission. There were concerns about his safety following a military takeover in Guinea-Bissau,” Onanuga wrote.
Jonathan arrived in Abuja on Thursday evening aboard an Ivorian government aircraft through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, where he was welcomed by supporters and officials.
His evacuation followed the disruption of electoral activities in Bissau, cutting short the observation mission’s work and prompting swift diplomatic steps to ensure the safety of the delegation.
