The
Turkish government has appealed to the Federal government of Nigeria to close down the 17
Nigerian-Turkish International Colleges (NTIC) in Nigeria, saying they all
belong to Fetullah Gulen accused of sponsoring the July 15th failed military
coup in Turkey.
The Turkish High Commissioner to Nigeria, Hakan Cakil, disclosed this while
hosting the vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator
Shehu Sani yesterday July 28th.
“We are
requesting the Nigerian Government to close down the schools.
“I have
requested officially, both orally and in writing, the closure of these schools.
Also, I have sent a letter to Mr Geoffrey Onyeama ( Foreign Minister) and Mr
Abba Kyari (Chief of Staff to the President) about this subject and requested
their support for the closure of the schools.
“I will
also send letters to the Chairmen of Committees on Foreign Affairs in the
National Assembly as well as the Senate Majority Leader over the issue and I am
going to enclose some documents in English on how the group members are engaged
in the army, police and the Judiciary.
“In
Nigeria, there are 17 schools, which belong to the Gulen Movement, one in Kano,
one in Kaduna, one in Abuja, Lagos etc and they are offering scholarships.
“We are
starting some legal procedures to take the name of Turkish out of the name of
the schools. They are not the schools of the Turkish Government.
“They
are misleading the public and allocating scholarships to the children of the
high bureaucracy and after they graduate from school, they send the children to
Turkey to attend their universities,’’ he said.
The
ambassador said the Turkish government had closed down all schools linked to
the movement in Turkey.
“Turkish
government has already closed down all primary, secondary, high schools and
universities owned by the group in Turkey.
“In our
system, it is allowed for the foundation to establish schools if they fulfill
some requirements and that is how they established these schools.
“This is
an issue that the Turkish Government has attached so much importance.
“Recently,
my Minister called Mr Onyeama and briefed him about these schools because they
are raising funds through the schools and they are using these funds for the
illegal activities.
“This is
a matter of national security for us in Turkey. I have instructions from my
government to follow up this matter and we will be very happy to obtain the
support of Nigerian legislators on that issue,’’ he said.
He
promised to engage other relevant government officials on the matter, adding;
“I will take the matter up to the Federal Executive Council. I have also
requested an audience with the Minister of Education.
“You may
be aware that the government of Turkey started to investigate those responsible
for the coup attempt.
“It is
really clear that the Gulen Movement is behind the coup. There are some
testimonies by detained military officials.
“They
are confessing that they are in connection with the Gulen Movement and they
have been members of the Gulen Movement for a long time and they have been
planning this coup for a long time, nearly five months.
“The
Government of Turkey has started to take some legal actions against the leader
of the movement. He is now based in the United States. His extradition is a
legal matter between turkey and United States,’’ he said.
On the
relations between Nigeria and Turkey, the ambassador said he was optimistic
that the trade between the two countries, which declined due to the drop in oil
price, would pick up soon.
The
Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Sen. Shehu Sani, said
Turkey had the legitimate right to be concerned about its security in view of
the failed coup attempt.
He,
however, urged the Turkish government operate within the ambits of the law in
bringing those responsible for the incidence to book.
“I think
the world should identify and reason with you because if the coup had succeeded
there could have been bloodshed.
“You
have a legitimate right to continue to raise them and for our government to
look into them.
“One
thing I will say is that I will urge you to use the instrument of democracy,
liberty and constitutional right to bring to book those who are involved in
that,’’ he said.
The News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that following the July 15 failed coup,
President Recep Erdogan and the government had blamed Fethullah Gülen, a cleric
and opposition leader of being behind the coup.
Gullen,
currently on exile in the U.S., has since denied the accusation. (NAN)
Labels: All 17 Turkish schools in Nigeria to be closed down, Coup, Coup in Turkey, Fetullah Gulen, Turkish ambassador urges FG to close 17 Turkish schools
