Abuja, Nigeria – November 27, 2025 – In a swift and unanimous display of national solidarity, the House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to exhaust every diplomatic avenue to secure the immediate and safe repatriation of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who finds himself marooned in Guinea-Bissau following a dramatic military coup that has plunged the West African nation into chaos. The resolution, adopted through a resounding voice vote during Thursday’s plenary session, underscores Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding its elder statesmen while extending equal concern to all citizens ensnared in the crisis.
The urgent intervention was sparked by a matter of public importance raised by House Majority Leader Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo), who painted a vivid picture of Jonathan’s predicament during what was meant to be a routine election observation duty. Jonathan, a globally respected figure in democratic transitions, had arrived in Bissau as the head of a high-level delegation comprising representatives from the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the West African Elders Forum (WAEF). Their mission: to oversee Guinea-Bissau’s presidential election held over the weekend of November 22–23, 2025, a poll already marred by allegations of irregularities and low turnout amid simmering political rivalries.
Ihonvbere, in his impassioned address, reminded his colleagues of Jonathan’s illustrious track record as an election monitor. “This is a man who has selflessly monitored elections in Zimbabwe, Liberia, Ghana, Mozambique, Pakistan, Tanzania, and South Africa, representing ECOWAS, the Commonwealth, the African Union, and Nigeria,” he stated, his voice echoing through the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly. The former president’s involvement in these efforts has earned him accolades as a “true democrat,” particularly for his historic concession in Nigeria’s 2015 presidential race, which averted potential post-election violence and set a benchmark for African leadership. Yet, Ihonvbere emphasized, the House’s focus was not on dissecting the coup’s merits or demerits but on the imperative of Jonathan’s safety—a matter he deemed “of national importance.”
The session, which had initially convened to deliberate on the escalating economic hardships afflicting ordinary Nigerians—from soaring fuel prices to rampant inflation—was abruptly pivoted by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu (APC, Abia). Kalu described the development as “an urgent matter requiring the House’s intervention,” injecting a layer of gravity into the proceedings and prompting an immediate shift in agenda. This procedural maneuver highlighted the lawmakers’ prioritization of citizen welfare, even as domestic woes loomed large.
Lending bipartisan heft to the motion was Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), whose support amplified its resonance across the aisle. Chinda, while unequivocally backing the call for Jonathan’s rescue, broadened the lens to encompass the plight of every Nigerian abroad. “The importance we attach to his life should also apply to every other Nigerian, whether at home or abroad,” he asserted, underscoring a cardinal principle of equitable state protection. His remarks resonated deeply, evoking memories of past diplomatic scrambles to evacuate Nigerians from conflict zones like Libya in 2011 and Sudan earlier this year. Chinda’s intervention ensured the resolution was not viewed through a partisan prism but as a collective mandate for the executive branch under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The coup itself erupted on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, shattering the fragile calm that had followed the election. General Denis N’Canha, head of the presidential military office, went live on state television to declare that a unified command of all armed forces branches had seized power, suspending the constitution, dissolving the government, and halting the electoral process indefinitely. Borders were sealed, airports shuttered, and internet services throttled, trapping not just Jonathan and his delegation but hundreds of foreign observers and locals alike. Reports indicate that President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, who was seeking a second term, was among those detained alongside top officials, including the prime minister and military brass. By Thursday morning, General Horta N’Tam had emerged as the interim leader, promising a one-year transitional government—a move decried by ECOWAS as a “flagrant violation” of democratic norms.
Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony with a population of about 2 million, has a notorious history of political instability, having weathered four coups since independence in 1974. This latest upheaval stems from deep-seated ethnic tensions, corruption scandals, and disputes over drug trafficking routes that have long plagued the nation. The election, intended to legitimize Embaló’s rule, instead became a flashpoint, with opposition leaders accusing the incumbent of vote-rigging. International observers, including Jonathan’s team, had flagged concerns over voter suppression and logistical failures even before the polls closed.
In response, ECOWAS and the AU swiftly condemned the takeover, demanding the release of detainees and a return to constitutional order. ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray issued a statement late Wednesday, warning of “immediate sanctions” if the junta did not stand down. Nigeria, as ECOWAS’s heavyweight, now faces heightened scrutiny to lead regional stabilization efforts—efforts that Jonathan’s safe extraction could symbolize.
The House’s resolution goes beyond rhetoric, mandating the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to “intensify diplomatic engagements with ECOWAS, the AU, and other regional partners” to orchestrate Jonathan’s evacuation. It also calls for bolstering Nigeria’s consular mechanisms to protect citizens in volatile hotspots, a nod to the estimated 50–100 Nigerians—mostly traders and migrants—now potentially at risk in Bissau. As of press time, Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar confirmed that Nigerian diplomats were in “active talks” with Bissau authorities, though details remain classified for security reasons.
Jonathan’s stranding has ignited a wave of public anxiety and social media fervor in Nigeria, with #BringBackGEJ trending nationwide. Prominent voices, from civil society leaders to celebrities, have rallied behind the cause, viewing it as a test of Tinubu’s administration’s foreign policy mettle. At 68, Jonathan—whose post-presidency has been defined by philanthropy and pan-African diplomacy—remains a unifying figure, bridging divides in a polarized polity.
This episode serves as a stark reminder of Africa’s perennial fragility, where elections often ignite rather than extinguish conflicts. For Nigeria, the stakes are profoundly personal: ensuring one man’s safe passage could ripple into a broader affirmation of its role as a continental bulwark. As the sun sets on Abuja’s legislative green dome, all eyes turn to the corridors of power in Aso Rock, awaiting word that a statesman has returned home unscathed.
