President Bola Tinubu on Saturday received former President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa following his return from Guinea‑Bissau.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga announced the visit on X.
He wrote “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.”
Jonathan, who led the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) Election Observation Mission, had travelled to Guinea‑Bissau to observe the country’s elections.
His presence in Bissau became precarious when military officers declared “total control” of the country, suspended the electoral process, and shut down the nation’s borders.
Following the coup, the Federal Government of Nigeria confirmed Jonathan’s safe evacuation on a special flight,
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, underscored Nigeria’s condemnation of the takeover, calling it an “unconstitutional change of government” that threatens both Guinea-Bissau’s democracy and wider stability in West Africa
The reception at the Villa marks the former president’s return to Nigeria and reflects the country’s ongoing engagement in regional democratic processes.
Meanwhile, Jonathan described the military intervention in Guinea-Bissau as “a ceremonial coup” rather than a full-fledged overthrow, urging the continued announcement of election results.
The Guinea‑Bissau crisis drew strong regional and continental reactions. ECOWAS and the African Union (AU) both condemned the coup and suspended the country from their activities until constitutional order is restored.
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