Recently, the Nigerian media was awash with the news about the call by Turkish ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Hakan Cakil, on Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to close down all (17) schools – popularly known as Nigerian-Turkish International Colleges (NTIC) – situated across states in Nigeria.
According to news reports, Mr. Cakil made this call when the Vice Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs visited him in his office. He was further quoted as saying that his call for an immediate closure of all the Turkish schools/institutions in Nigeria was based basically on the allegation that the owner of this group of schools – who is also the spiritual leader of the Hizmet movement (a moderate Islamic movement that espouses the ideals of a secular society), Mr. Fethullah Gulen – is one man seriously regarded by President Erdogan-led government to be a prime suspect in the July 15, 2016 failed military coup in Turkey.
And so, in his estimation, Mr. Cakil strongly believes that the Nigerian government should as a matter of urgency wind up Mr. Gulen’s schools in Nigeria “because they (Fethullah Gulen and his co-investors) are raising funds through the schools and they are using these funds for illegal activities”.
No doubt, this call is not just the opinion of the Turkish ambassador to Nigeria and, more importantly, a reflection of the heart of his home government, but also it is an ample evidence of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s deep frustration with the global acceptance of the legitimate activities and achievements of the Hizmet movement which, by their very nature, are often monumental to make any leader routinely living in suspicion -like President Erdogan – begrudge the founder – Mr. Futhullah Gulen.
But then, come to think of it: assuming, note the word assuming, that this spiritual leader of the Hizmet movement, Mr. Fethullah Gulen, was actually the benefactor of the recently failed coup attempt in Turkey, what then will be the justification of the Nigerian government in meddling with Mr. Gulen’s stupendous investments in Nigeria that provide not just development but jobs and opportunities to thousands of Nigerian citizenry?
And by way of analogy, if there were to be today a failed coup attempt in, say, South Africa in which the owner of Shoprite is believe to be the benefactor, will the South African government expect the Nigerian government to go the whole hog of closing down all the branches of Shoprite that spread across the length and breadth of Nigeria? Of course that will be a good deal of diplomatic nonsense. Come on! Or, again, assuming there exists such evidence of sponsorship or link between Fethullah Gulen and the coup plotters, will that in itself be diplomatically expedient for the Nigerian government to wade into a fray that is, from all ramifications, strictly within the purview of the internal affairs of Turkey and Turkish people?
Though the intendment here is not to hold brief for Mr.Gulen, Hizmet movement or Nigerian-Turkish International Colleges either, the truth of the matter, nonetheless, is that there seems to be no justifiable nexus between the recent unsuccessful coup in Turkey and Turkish ambassador’s (Mr. Cakil’s) call on Nigerian government to close down all schools legitimately owned, registered and managed by diligent Turkish citizens merely being suspected and accused of having sponsored a failed coup in their country.
And however anybody wants to look at it, it must not be forgotten that Mr.
You May Also Like
Fethullah Gulen is a non-state actor whose rights and privileges to invest overseas are recognised and guaranteed by both municipal and international laws and invariably deserve and demand respect and protection at all times – as applicable to other peoples’ rights and privileges.
Like the Erdogans of this world, Mr. Fethullah Gulen is a Turk with his own political interest and inherent rights to play either passive or active role in the political development of his country. And so be that as it may, it clearly has got nothing to do with his business or economic interest overseas.
Therefore, the ignorance based call by Turkish ambassador to Nigeria – Mr. Hakan Cakil – on the government of Nigeria to close down all Nigerian-Turkish schools (Mr. Fethullah Gulen’s investments in Nigeria) is not just totally misplaced and absurd, but also unworthy of being dignified with attention of any sort by Buhari-led government. The anti-intellectualism attitude of the Erdogans of this world must not be allowed to infect Nigeria.
Onyiorah Paschal Chiduluemije, a Journalist, writes from
Abuja
More Stories
Columnist
Blood on Their Hands: How Governor Okpebholo’s Rhetoric and Actions Fueled Political Violence in Edo State
Columnist
Uneasy Neighbours and the Biafra Dialogue: Part 3 by Dr. Austin Orette
Columnist
Uneasy Neighbours and the Biafra Dialogues, By Dr. Austin Orette
Columnist
The North-South Divide by Dr Austin Orette
Columnist
CRAZY AMERICAN POLITICS BY DR. AUSTIN ORETTE
Columnist
