The Gambia’s sit-tight ruler, Yahya Jammeh, reportedly flew out of the country he ruled for 22 years into exile on a plane owned by the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Jammeh, who had earlier rejected the outcome of a December 1 election where he lost to Adama Barrow, reluctantly agreed to leave office after two days of talks with Guinean President Alpha Conde and his Mauritanian counterpart Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz.
Initial reports said the Falcon jet which ferried Jammeh out of The Gambia on Saturday to Equatorial Guinea where he is expected to settle with his family belongs to Mauritanian president.
However, subsequent reports claimed the jet actually jet belongs to Tinubu.
“After agreeing to leave and save The Gambia from a major crisis, Jammeh was confronted by big challenge – how to fly out,” a report on The Nation said.
“The leaders, The Nation learnt, reached out to All Progressives Congress stalwart Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who authorised his private aircraft to be used to fly Jammeh out of Banjul, sources said.
“Tinubu’s VP-CBT Falcon Jet had been with President Conde, who is a close friend of the leading politician.
“Sources said Tinubu was contacted to allow the use of his jet to fly Jammeh out of Banjul.
“He reportedly gave a condition: it should only be used “if it will facilitate the quick exit of Jammeh and lead to the restoration of peace and democracy in The Gambia”.
“The plane eventually flew out with Jammeh, his wife, mother and President Conde on board.
“Senegal, it was learnt, insisted on knowing those on board before allowing it to overfly its airspace. This wish was granted. Jammeh was flown to Equatorial Guinea where he will be on exile.”
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