The House of Representatives called on the Federal Government to use all diplomatic means to ensure the safe return of former President Goodluck Jonathan from Guinea-Bissau on Thursday. Military forces seized power in the West African nation last week, trapping Jonathan during an election monitoring mission. The lawmakers raised the alarm during a plenary session in Abuja, shifting from talks on national hardships to this pressing crisis.
Jonathan had travelled there as part of a joint team from the African Union, ECOWAS, and the West African Elders Forum to oversee the presidential vote. The coup erupted days after the election, leading soldiers to suspend the process, shut borders, and take control under General Denis N’Canha. Incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embalo remained holed up near military headquarters with top officials.
House Leader Julius Ihonvbere stressed Jonathan’s long record in monitoring polls for bodies like ECOWAS, the Commonwealth, and the African Union in countries such as Zimbabwe, Liberia, Ghana, and South Africa. He noted that authorities already knew of the situation and acted to bring him home. “His safety is a matter of national importance,” Ihonvbere said.
Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda echoed the plea, praising Jonathan’s role in democracy worldwide. He insisted that rescuers must also aid other trapped Nigerians. “The importance we attach to his life should apply to every other Nigerian, whether at home or abroad,” Chinda added.
Lawmakers passed the motion by voice vote, demanding swift action to free Jonathan and protect all citizens caught in the turmoil. This sudden peril abroad strikes at the heart of a man who led Nigeria through storms, now facing shadows not of his making. Families and friends hold their breath, praying for a swift dawn over this dark chapter.