Former President Goodluck Jonathan has insisted that the recent military coup in Guinea-Bissau “was not a coup” and described it as “maybe a ceremonial coup.”

Gunfire had erupted around key government institutions in Bissau on Wednesday as soldiers claimed to have “total control” of the country.

President Umaro Sissoco Embaló also said he was arrested in his office at the presidential palace, sparking panic and prompting the military to impose a curfew, suspend the electoral process, close borders, and detain senior officials, including top military and interior ministry figures.

The Federal Government condemned the development as “a serious threat to democracy and regional stability,” and confirmed that Jonathan, who was in the country as head of the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission, was safely evacuated by a special flight alongside members of his delegation.

READ ALSO:Coup In Guinea-Bissau? Soldiers Deployed Near Presidential Palace After Gunfire

In an interview with Symfoni posted on YouTube on Friday, Jonathan said he was compelled to speak to the media to thank Nigerians for their concern during the crisis and to clarify the situation.

“You know, since I left office, I’ve always been scared of talking to the media. But in this particular case, I decided to speak… first and foremost, to thank Nigerians for the show of empathy, the encouragement,” he said.

He explained that during the so-called coup, Guinea-Bissau’s President, Embaló himself announced that he had been arrested before the military made any public declaration.

“I wouldn’t call it a coup. It was not a coup. I would just say, for want of a better word, maybe it was a ceremonial coup. Because for two things: It is the president, President Embaló, who announced the coup. Later, the military men came up to address the world that they were in charge of everywhere.

READ ALSO:Guinea-Bissau Coup: FG Gives Update On Ex-President Jonathan

“Then Embaló had already announced the coup, which is strange. Not only announcing the coup, but Embaló, while the coup took place, was using his phone and addressing media organisations across the world that he had been arrested,” Jonathan said.

The former president expressed disbelief at the manner in which the incident unfolded, comparing it to other military takeovers in West Africa.

“I’m a Nigerian close to 70, and I know how they keep heads of state when a coup takes place. Recently, I was a mediator in Mali. And within that period, we had a military coup.

“The military doesn’t take over governments, and the sitting president that they overthrew would be allowed to be addressing press conferences and announcing that he has been arrested. Why does this happen? Who is fooling whom?” he asked.

READ ALSO:Coup: ECOWAS Suspends Guinea-Bissau

Jonathan also called on ECOWAS and the African Union to ensure the timely announcement of election results, stressing that the military should not interfere with the democratic process.

“Basically, what happened in Guinea-Bissau is quite disturbing to me, who believes in democracy. They have the results because AU and ECOWAS officials were in all the regions when the results were collated. They cannot change those results.

“They should tally all those results and announce them. They cannot force the military out. They must announce and let the world know who won that election. Let the world know who won that election,” he said.

He further recalled his experience overseeing elections in Côte d’Ivoire, emphasising that election outcomes must be respected.

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“A similar thing happened in Côte d’Ivoire when I was the Chair of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS. “When we had elections in Côte d’Ivoire in 2010, Laurent Gbagbo was the sitting president. In the first round, Gbagbo got forty-something per cent of the votes, and Alassane Ouattara got thirty-something per cent of the votes.

“And their law, you must get 50 per cent of the votes plus one, at least. Democracy is about the majority. You must get a simple majority to be the president, so they had to go for a second round.

“When they went for the second round, all those other candidates that lost now supported Ouattara, and Ouattara then got more votes than Gbagbo. And Gbagbo said he was not going, that he won the election, and that Ouattara and somebody who had something could not come and defeat him. But that is their law.

“Then all the observers in the international community said Ouattara won the election. And we in ECOWAS said, well, you are our colleague, but you have to go. If the observers, everybody, say Ouattara won the election, Ouattara must be sworn in as the president of Côte d’Ivoire. I stood my ground as the Chair of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, and Ouattara was sworn in,” he said.

The Nigerian Army has approved the promotion of 28 Brigadier Generals to the rank of Major General and 77 Colonels to Brigadier General, in a significant reshuffle of its senior leadership.

The decision was announced by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, on the Nigerian Army’s X on Friday.

Among those elevated to Major General are Brig Gen O Adegbe of the Defence Intelligence Agency, Brig Gen SM Uba, Director of Defence Information, Brig Gen RE Hedima, Acting Chief of Military Intelligence Army, and Brig Gen RT Utsaha, Deputy Director of Defence Operations.

Others include Brig Gen AM Umar, Commandant of the Warrant Officer Academy, Brig Gen S Sulaiman, Deputy Military Secretary (Army), Brig Gen IO Bassey, Director of Nigerian Army Operations Centre, and Brig Gen CA Ekeator of the Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.

READ ALSO:Army Releases List Of Shortlisted Candidates For SSC Course

Also promoted are Brig Gen SY Yakasai, Acting Director Procurement in the Office of the Chief of Army Staff, Brig Gen WL Nzidee of Army Headquarters Department of Army Logistics, Brig Gen SA Emmanuel of the Nigerian Army Signals, Brig Gen SS Tilawan, Acting Commander Sector 3 Joint Task Force, North East Operation HADIN KAI, Brig Gen MO Agi, Desk Officer Tertiary Education Trust Fund at the Nigerian Defence Academy, and Brig Gen IM Abbas, Commander 34 Brigade.

Brig Gen ZA Saidu was promoted posthumously in recognition of his service.

Promotions from Colonel to Brigadier General include officers serving across key army units and institutions, such as the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji, Army Headquarters departments, Special Forces Brigades, and several military hospitals.

In his remarks, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu, congratulated the officers and their families, urging them to intensify their professional drive and prove that their elevation is well-deserved.

READ ALSO:Chief Of Army Staff, Shaibu Announces Recruitment Of 24,000 Soldiers

He emphasized the need for exemplary leadership, inspiring subordinates through personal conduct, and adopting bold, innovative solutions to address evolving security challenges.

Shaibu further stressed the officers’ sacred duty to uphold their oath of allegiance and maintain absolute loyalty to the Constitution, reinforcing the army’s commitment to defending the territorial integrity of the nation.

The promotions mark a strategic boost to the Nigerian Army’s senior leadership, aiming to strengthen operational efficiency and enhance the military’s response to national security threats.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has revealed that the price of rice has dropped significantly in the market, adding that he is personally ready to sell Lagos-produced rice for N57,000 to N58,000 per 50kg bag.

Speaking at the 60th Annual Bankers’ Dinner of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria in Lagos on Friday, Sanwo-Olu cited the falling price of rice as evidence that the country’s inflation outlook is improving.

According to a recent report by The PUNCH, the National Bureau of Statistics, in its Selected Food Prices Watch report for September 2025, said that the prices of beans, garri, maize, tomatoes, beef, rice, and other food items witnessed a slight decrease in September 2025.

Also, the latest Consumer Price Index from the NBS indicated a slight easing in food prices, with food inflation declining by 0.37 per cent month-on-month.

Speaking at the event, Sanwo-Olu said, “Clear examples about this time last year, we were struggling to buy a bag of rice, today in the same country, in the same market, you go to the price of a 50kg is under N60,000.”

READ ALSO:Sanwo-Olu makes U-turn, Unblocks Lawyer Who Sued Him Over Blocking On X

Highlighting Lagos production capacity, the governor said he operates the country’s largest rice mill and currently holds a significant stock.

He stated, “In fact, I am the largest… I have the largest rice mill in the country. I’ve got over 200,000 bags, and I was convincing my colleagues a couple of days ago, and I’m ready to sell my… at N57,000, 58,000.”

Sanwo-Olu described the ongoing price decline as a direct benefit to Nigerians, saying, “Real drop in the market. That is real growth, innovation and real growth in our citizens. The reduction in inflation numbers is real and positive.”

The governor linked the improvement in rice affordability to broader macroeconomic reforms and a more disciplined monetary environment, crediting recent changes for stabilising prices and easing pressure on households.

He continued his remarks by commending the Central Bank of Nigeria’s regulatory stance and its impact on inflation, foreign exchange stability, and investor confidence, while assuring the financial sector of Lagos State’s ongoing infrastructural and economic support.

READ ALSO:Lagos DSVA Unveils Policy To Fight Workplace Harassment

The governor extended appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for giving the CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, the room to operate.

He said, “I think we should thank the president and commander in chief of the armed forces of the country, for choosing him, but not just for choosing— for allowing him to do the work, for allowing him to play this role.”

Sanwo-Olu reassured the banking industry of Lagos State’s consistent support through infrastructure development, security upgrades, and digital initiatives.

He told the audience, “We are indeed grateful and happy with the level of relationship we have built, the commitment that we continue to give to you in the bank sector through our investment in infrastructure.”

READ ALSO:I Will Snub Gov Sanwo-Olu Again – Mr Macaroni

He referenced the state’s massive rollout of street lighting as part of its urban security plans:
“As you drive back and see how many of the LED solar street lights that we’re placing on your street and your corners.”

The governor also highlighted the state’s recent success in the financial markets, announcing the oversubscription of its latest bond issuance.

He said, “Just a week ago, as typical of Lagos, we raised the largest sub-national conventional bond. The race went to market to raise N200m. The conventional bond was oversubscribed by over 60 per cent.”

READ ALSO:JUST IN: EFCC Declares Sanwo-olu’s Ally, Lagos Socialite Wanted

He added that Lagos also floated a green bond:
“On another note, we were also the first to raise the green bond and sub-national.”

Sanwo-Olu urged the banking community to continue upholding ethics, innovation, and customer-centric thinking.

“Commitment is not only to professionalism, but our commitment also must be to ethical conduct. Must also be customer-centric. We must continue to innovate,” he affirmed.