COUP: Reps demand rescue of Goodluck Jonathan from Guinea-Bissau

The House of Representatives is urging the Federal Government to use all diplomatic efforts to ensure the return of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who is trapped in Guinea-Bissau, following the coup in the West African country.

Jonathan is among African leaders on the joint mission of the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Elders Forum who were in the coup-hit Guinea-Bissau to monitor the presidential election held held over the weekend.

The House by extension is also urging the Federal Government to rescue Nigerians equally trapped in Guinea-Bissau.

They made the call during plenary on Thursday, a day after military officers took over power in Guinea-Bissau.

The officers suspended the country’s electoral process and closed its borders, three days after the West African nation’s legislative and presidential elections.

On Wednesday afternoon, the head of the presidential military office, General Denis N’Canha, told members of the press that a command “composed of all branches of the armed forces, was taking over the leadership of the country until further notice”.

N’Canha read the announcement seated at a table and surrounded by armed soldiers.

Incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who had been favoured to win Sunday’s election, was inside a building behind military headquarters, “with the chief of staff and the minister of the interior,” a senior officer told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Embalo later said he was arrested while he was inside the presidential palace.

Also arrested are the chief of staff, General Biague Na Ntan, deputy chief of staff General Mamadou Traore, and the interior minister, Botche Cande.

Election observers from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) and the Nigerian government have raised concerns over the coup in Guinea-Bissau.

In separate statements, they described the coup as unacceptable and called for the return to democratic government in the West African nation.

The observers expressed “deep concern with the announcement of a coup d’etat by the armed forces, while the nation was waiting for the announcement of the results.

“It’s regrettable that this announcement came at a time when the missions had just concluded a meeting with the two leading presidential candidates, who assured us of their willingness to accept the will of the people”. (CHANNELS)