Former President, Goodluck Jonathan has briefed the Nigerian Leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the Guinea Bissau political situation.
Dr. Jonathan, who led the West African Elders Forum (WAEF) Election Observer Mission to Guinea-Bissau, briefed President Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on Saturday, giving him a first-hand account of developments in the country following the military takeover, which abruptly halted the electoral process and triggered widespread international condemnation.
In an interview with state house correspondents, the former President emphasised that the Guinea-Bissau elections had been substantially concluded, with tallying of results nearly finalised before the military intervened and suspended the announcement.
Dr. Jonathan added that while the military cannot be forcefully removed without risking civilian casualties, ECOWAS must open immediate communication with the junta and demand the release of detained political figures, including the opposition candidate who, he said had committed no offense.
“The key thing is that that election was concluded tallying of results was almost concluded infact the results are known and the key thing is that the winner of that election must be announced.
“Well you cannot kick out the military with force otherwise people will die, but let us know the winner of the election
“So what I am asking the ECOWAS leadership to do is to reach out to the leadership in Guinea Bissau.”
Former President Jonathan urged the leadership of ECOWAS to directly engage the military authorities in Guinea-Bissau to ensure that the winner of the country’s recently concluded elections is formally announced.
He insisted that the sovereignty of the people must not be undermined.
“Talk to them, they are human beings they know the right thing to be done. First for them to release the opposition man because the man has not committed any offense, he didn’t announce himself as the winner of the election if he had done that they would say he it’s a treasonable offence so there is no reason to arrest him.
“And then they should announce the result and if the military would agree, the person who won the elections should be inaugurated as the President of the country.”
He urged the West African leaders to press the military to publish the results and allow the legitimately elected candidate to be inaugurated.
Expressing deep concern with the recurring pattern of unconstitutional takeovers across the continent, Dr. Jonathan rejected attempts to downplay the Guinea-Bissau incident as a “palace coup.”
He insisted the takeover did not fit traditional coup classifications.
“We are tired of this in Africa.Everyday is negative story, what happened in Guinea Bissau is not what some people would call palace coup, it was not a palace coup ,we know, we know real coups, Palace coups we know.
“This was no even a palace coup, I was looking for the appropriate word to describe it I could not get that is why I called it a ceremonial coup. It was a ceremony conducted by the Head of State himself.
“That is why I say it was a ceremonial ” Dr Jonathan added.”
The ex-President said his visit was in line with long-standing tradition requiring former Nigerian leaders involved in regional engagements to provide the President with first-hand updates on unfolding developments.
“I came this evening to brief Mr President what happened that is the tradition for former President, all these regional and Continental issues whenever you are involved when you get back home you have to brief the President because likewise leaders will meet I will not be there, so he will be able to get first hand information,” he stated.
Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s briefing adds to ongoing regional diplomatic efforts as ECOWAS continues consultations aimed at restoring constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau following the abrupt military takeover that halted the release of the November election results.