- Challenges Turkey govt to prove coup allegation
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
FEDERAL Government yesterday said it would not honour the request by the Turkish government to shut 17 Turkish schools in Nigeria.
The Turkish envoy, Hakan Cakil, last week called for closure of the schools because of their affiliation to the Gulen movement, the group the government alleged masterminded the July 15, 2016, attempt to oust President Recep Tayyip Erdoan,.
Gulen movement is an Islamic transnational religious and social movement, with Turkish Islamic theologian and preacher Fethullah Gulen as the leader. There had been a massive crack down on instruments or organisations perceived to be affiliated to the movement.
Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu said the request would not be considered until the Turkish government provided concrete evidence through appropriate diplomatic channels, to back the charge, noting that “Nigeria, as a sovereign state, has rules and regulations guiding its operations, either diplomatic and otherwise.
“This institutions (Turkish schools and other investments) came to Nigeria and indicated interest in investing in Nigerian education system. Conditions were presented to them and they apparently met the requirements, and were issued operational licence, and they have been operating in line with the specification of the licence they have.
“In that regard, it would be morally and legally unfair to yield to the call of the Turkish government on mere allegations. We have no evidence against the Turkish schools and other investments in Nigeria that would warrant that we take the action as requested by the government and close the schools or other investments. Until the Turkish government proves otherwise, they will continue to do their legitimate business here in Nigeria.”
The Turkish ambassador during a visit by Shehu Sani, the vice chairman, Senate committee on Foreign Affairs, on Thursday, July 28, alleged that the schools have links with a movement his government believed was involved in the failed coup attempt in Turkey.
In a swift reaction, the authorities of the Turkish schools in a statement by its managing director, Orhan Kertin had faulted the government’s request describing its as “spurious.”