Concerns over the safety of former President, Goodluck Jonathan, intensified on Thursday, with his family stepping in to give assurance hours after a military coup upended Guinea-Bissau on Wednesday.
A member of Jonathan’s family, Robert Azibaola, a cousin to the former president, confirmed to Vanguard that Jonathan remained safe despite being unable to leave the West African country amid the political upheaval.
Azibaola stated that there was no imminent danger to Jonathan’s life, even as evacuation plans remained ongoing.
The Bayelsa-born lawyer disclosed that he had held multiple phone conversations with Jonathan since news of the coup attempt broke.
“Jonathan has not been able to leave Guinea-Bissau, but he is safe. I have spoken with him severally today,” Azibaola said.
“There is no threat to his life. We are in constant touch with him,” he added, affirming that the family had maintained open communication lines throughout Thursday.
Naijaonpoint reports that the coup unfolded on Wednesday when military officers declared control of the country, disrupting electoral activities following Sunday’s contested presidential polls.
Jonathan was in Guinea-Bissau as the head of the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission, monitoring the elections before soldiers seized power.
The political uncertainty, border shutdowns, sporadic gunfire, and conflicting victory claims had triggered alarm bells across West Africa, including in Nigeria, where concerns centred on Jonathan’s safe exit.
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