Ex-Guinea’s President, envoy speak on Tinubu’s relationship with country

A former president of Guinea, Alpha Condé, has spoken out about the raging debate over the alleged citizenship of the Nigerian president-elect. tinubu ballfrom his country

Conde said he gave Mr. Tinubu an “extraordinary ambassadorship” because of the latter’s role in the 2015 elections.

Mr Condé, who is currently in exile in Turkey after a 2021 coup that toppled him, is a close friend of Mr Tinubu.

A video recently surfaced online showing the President-elect, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Guinea’s Ambassador to the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063, Ousmane Yara, in a helicopter owned by the Guinean government.

Sun Newspaper notify Mr Yara is said to have made a video call to the exiled leader during an interview, who confirmed that he had given Mr Tinubu the “privilege”.

Conde, while responding to a question about his relationship with Mr. Tinubu, said: “Tinubu is the greatest pan-Africanist I have seen. Before I met Tinubu, I noted his achievements since he was governor. I see him as the ‘Lion of Africa’ for his contributions to the stability and development of Africa. He has always supported African presidents and others who were pan-Africanists.’

The former president expressed confidence in Tinubu’s ability to do well as Nigeria’s leader.

He said: “I am sure that Tinubu’s leadership will be good for Nigeria. Nigeria is a country that other West African nations look up to. I am happy for Tinubu. Whatever he asks me to do to make his government successful, in my personal capacity, I will do with great enthusiasm. He helped us in Guinea and I will never forget that. Nigerians should pray for the success of Tinubu’s government because his leadership will be influential.”

Dual Citizenship

Mr. Tinubu’s connection to Guinea has become the latest controversy trailing behind him.

A Guinean passport containing the details of Nigeria’s president-elect has surfaced on social media recently. His opponents believe Mr. Tinubu is violating the 1999 constitution by acquiring “citizenship” of another country.

Article 137 provides that (1) A person will not be able to be elected to the position of President if:

(a) Pursuant to the provisions of Article 28 of this Constitution, has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a country other than Nigeria or, except in cases prescribed by the National Assembly, has made a declaration of allegiance to them. another country.”

Article 28, however, excludes citizens by birth from the scope of Article 137.

Vira video was released in 2016 — Yara

In the interview, Mr. Yara explained that the helicopter video was taken in 2016 during the independence anniversary celebration where Mr. Tinubu was a guest of the ousted president.

“President Conde invited Tinubu to the independence anniversary. As the official function was held in different regions for each independence anniversary, Tinubu had to fly in a helicopter from the country’s capital to Mamu, where that year’s event was held. That was the video that was being released. During the independence anniversary celebration, President Conde conferred the honor and privilege of a president on Tinubu in recognition of his contribution to Guinea’s economic development.

He also explained how Mr. Tinubu participated in Guinea’s 2015 presidential election and the role he played in that election.

“Through one of Tinubu’s aides at the time, who is now a minister in the Nigerian government, I facilitated a meeting between President Conde and Tinubu. President Conde was up for re-election for a second term in office in 2015. He came to Nigeria to see Tinubu, he organized a dinner in his honour. At the dinner, Tinubu invited many Nigerian businessmen and others.

“President Conde then invited Tinubu to Guinea about a month before his second term election. Tinubu honored the invitation and came with a group of economic experts and businessmen who took time to discuss with Guinean government officials how the country can better harness its resources for economic prosperity and development.

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“Tinubu spent only one day and traveled to London from there, but he left the team he came with to continue his commitment to the Guinean authorities, to transform Guinea. The team and Guinean government officials worked for three days, and drew up an economic roadmap.”

However, it is not clear in the story whether the former Guinean president gave Mr. Tinubu a passport.

When PREMIUM TIMES contacted Bayo Onanuga, the spokesperson of the now defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council, he said Mr. Yara has provided the necessary passport details online.