The Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Hakan Cakil,
has called on the Nigerian Government to close 17 Turkish schools in Nigeria
for their alleged links with a movement his government says was involved in the
July 15 failed coup attempt in Turkey.
The ambassador, who made the call when the
vice chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Shehu Sani, paid him a
courtesy visit, said the Turkish Government had nothing to do with the schools.
According to the ambassador, investigations
by the Turkish government showed that a movement led by US-based Fethullah
Gulen was responsible for the failed coup attempt, which claimed over 200
lives.
He said the Turkish government was
dissociating itself from any school bearing the country’s name in Nigeria,
adding that while the country had schools in other countries, it had none in
Nigeria.
“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 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 that
“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, Mr. 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 to
operate within the ambit 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.
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