The House of Representatives has asked the Federal Government to deploy full diplomatic channels to secure the return of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who remains trapped in Guinea-Bissau following the military takeover in the country.
Jonathan was in Bissau as part of a joint observer mission of the African Union, ECOWAS and the West African Elders Forum, monitoring last weekend’s presidential election when soldiers seized power.
During Thursday’s plenary, lawmakers also called on the Federal Government to ensure the safe evacuation of Nigerians caught up in the unfolding crisis.
The plea came a day after military officers suspended the electoral process and shut the nation’s borders, three days after Guinea-Bissau held its legislative and presidential polls.
On Wednesday, the head of the presidential military office, General Denis N’Canha, seated beside armed soldiers, announced that a command “composed of all branches of the armed forces” had assumed control “until further notice.”
Incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, considered the frontrunner in the election, was held inside a building behind military headquarters alongside senior officials.
Embaló later stated he was arrested inside the presidential palace. Also detained were the chief of staff, General Biague Na Ntan; deputy chief of staff, General Mamadou Traore; and the interior minister, Botche Candé.
The Nigerian government, as well as election observer missions from ECOWAS and the AU, has separately condemned the coup, describing it as unacceptable and calling for a swift restoration of constitutional order.
The missions said they were “deeply concerned” that the military intervened while the country awaited election results, noting that they had only recently met the leading candidates, who had pledged to abide by the outcome of the vote.
AFP
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