Dare Babalola
The House of Representatives has demanded that the Federal Government utilise every diplomatic means to ensure the safe return of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who is stuck in Guinea-Bissau due to the coup.
Jonathan is among African leaders on a joint mission with the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the West African Elders Forum, who were in coup-hit Guinea-Bissau to monitor the presidential election held over the weekend.
The House by extension is also urging the Federal Government to rescue nigerians equally trapped in Guinea-Bissau.
Guinea-Bissau slipped into crisis on Wednesday after heavy gunfire erupted around the presidential palace.
Hours later, General Denis N’Canha, head of the presidential military office, announced that a command “composed of all branches of the armed forces” had taken over the country “until further notice”.
The military shut the nation’s borders, closed airports and suspended the release of official election results.
The coup unfolded after incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and his main challenger, Fernando Dias, both claimed victory despite the absence of formal results from the electoral commission.
In a joint statement issued in Bissau on Wednesday and signed by heads of the three observer missions, the AU, ECOWAS and WAEF condemned the coup and described it as a “blatant attempt to disrupt the democratic process”.
The missions expressed concern that the coup was announced just after they had met with the two leading candidates, who had both pledged to respect the will of the people.
They also deplored the arrest of several senior officials, including those overseeing the electoral process, and called on the armed forces to immediately release the detainees and allow the electoral process to run its course.
“We call on the people of Guinea-Bissau to remain calm, and we reaffirm our commitment to supporting the country on its democratic path,” the statement added.
