The Turkish government has asked the federal government to close down all the Nigerian-Turkish International Colleges (NTIC) in Nigeria, saying they belong to Fetullah Gulen, who it accused of sponsoring the July 15 failed military coup in that country.
The country’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Hakan Cakil, disclosed this while hosting the vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central).
“We have formally and verbally made our demand to the Nigerian government through the Foreign Affairs Minister. My country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs has spoken to Mr. Geoffrey Onyema on this. We are requesting for the close down of all the 17 schools,” he said.
Cakil, who described Nigeria as his country’s strategic partner, alleged that the schools belonged to Gulen’s movement, “a cult of personality that runs a secretive transitional network aiming to overthrow the democratic secular regime in Turkey.”
He said the confessions of the suspects arrested over the failed coup had shown that the movement is a terrorist group.
“All the schools in Nigeria belong to the Gulen movement and not the Turkish government. They are using the schools to recruit followers for terrorism. This is threatening the peace in our country as they are using funds they are generating in Nigeria for terrorism,” he said.
He said his country had closed down 15 universities and all other schools belonging to the movement in Turkey.
“Gulen is a terrorist organization using rhetoric of dialogue, peace and partnership to deceive people. It is being presented as a kind of Muslim missionary but they are abusing the religion.
“They misled the public by putting Turkey in the name of their school. We don’t have schools in Nigeria, we have in other countries but not in Nigeria. Gulen movement staged a coup and they failed, “he said.
He added:”Investigations prior to the coup attempt had revealed that the followers of the Gulen group infiltrated into various state structures including the police, army and judiciary.”
Responding, Senator Sani, who said he was at the embassy in his personal capacity, urged the federal government to look into the demand of the Turkish government.
“I’m here in my personal capacity as a friend of the Turks. The resistance of the Turks and mass protests that trailed the coup has become a source of inspiration to other countries to stand up and defend democracy whenever it is facing threats , “he said.
He said if the coup had succeeded in Turkey, democracy would have been under threat in other countries.
It’s a smear campaign against us – NTIC
When contacted by telephone, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Turkish International Colleges (NTIC), Mr. Cemal Yigit, said there was a deliberate attempt by the Turkish government to smear the image of the colleges by linking them to the failed coup plotters in Turkey. He said he was not aware of any move by the Nigerian authorities to shut down the colleges.
“I am not aware of the information but it is possible since that is how they do the defamation campaign. It is so unfortunate that the smear attack is even reaching Nigeria. Nigeria is a sovereign country and is as if the Turkish Ambassador has the luxury of giving Nigerian authorities instructions on the place which employed about 2,000 Nigerians.”
He said the colleges and all other business ventures affiliated to them in Nigeria were functioning.
“Let me say that the NTIC, Nizamiye Hospital, Nigeria Turkish Nile University under the First Surat Group of Companies are privately invested here by private investors. These groups of companies have nothing to do with the Turkish government and they are non-governmental and non-political companies. Their responsibility is to the Nigerian authorities.
“The schools and hospitals are open; there is no way they could be closed. This is just misinformation disseminated by the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria.”
He said the colleges haven’t received any letters concerning the matter from any Nigerian institution so far.
dailytrust.com.ng
Erdogan na wa
ReplyDeleteThis is unfair! So what happens to the millions of students who attend classes there
DeleteI so believe what the ambassador is saying. A friend of mine, a devout Christian had his only son February of this year come home and say he has converted to Islam. That he doesn't mind f he's been disowned cos his friends have promised to see him through school no matter the level to any part of the world. That he'll be going to Saudi arabia for further studies. They even offered him accommodation if the house is uncomfortable for him. He's even changed his name. As i type this, this Igbo family is distraught blaming themselves for sending the boy to Nigerian Turkish International College Abuja. They've reached out to all, including the school but no solution. One would wonder why a school would allow a minor change both name and religion without the consent of the parents. In fact, people are blaming them for sending their son to an islamic school. They claim they thought the school was secular. Parents please do your research before enrolling your ward in any school if you don't want to loose them.
DeleteShut up fools....u are bothered with those who paid fees....u want to pay fees and sponsor terrorism abi? No Christian should even send their kids to these schools cos at the end of the day they use it against you....they will slowly start indoctrinating people into terrorism.....these Islamic terrorist are very strategic in their actions
DeletePeople will just open their mouths and talk nonsense. Is he the first Christian to go to the school? I have lots of Christian friends who went to the school and none of them changed their religions. A school that teaches both irk and crk how is it an Islamic school. People should stop saying stories just via they sound good and to stir up controversy Abeg. We see Muslims who also decide to change their religions in schools. Don't come and be talking nonsense that u don't know.
DeleteNigeria government investigate the schools to see if any funny agenda is being filtered to the students/money laundering.
DeleteWe don't need jihad training centers
Nigeria government investigate the schools to see if any funny agenda is being filtered to the students/money laundering.
DeleteWe don't need jihad training centers
Fact is that Gulen's Islam is persuasive like typical anatolian islam. Whether the boy I being deceived is another thing. He was preached to and not forced. Same as some muslims that attend catholic schools or covenant university change religion daily. That is not to say its right for a minor to officially change name and all. But he followed his instincts and wasnt forced as the parents would think.
DeleteIf you ask me, I think Erdogen ins doing too much. His paranoia will end up ruining his government where the coup failed
The sponsors of his coup are not far from his household and these western governments smiling with him. All these people he is imprisoning and hounding will end up justifying why people wanted him gone in the first place.
DeleteThey should carry their Islamic wahala and remain in their country with their stupid request.
ReplyDeleteVery violent and troublesome set of people .
Over 150 human beings killed in one night,all in the name of attempted coup.
Always talking nonsense
DeleteFrom islamic to attempted coup, you are confused James
DeleteYou are the fool in this case.....Islamic terrorist are a pain in humanity's arse.....Turkish people are very unfriendly.....can't sent my kids to that kinda school sorry
DeleteNawa o, please they should not close the schools because we still need to have quality education in Nigeria for those who can afford it.
ReplyDeleteStupid mumu na quality education be your problem yet you expect boko haram to be wiped out....if the story is true then they should go the hell back to their country
DeleteEwoooooo
ReplyDeleteIn this buhari time
So who do we believe now!
ReplyDeleteMore research should be done and confirmed .
Don't mind the turkey Government, wetin concern coup with schools. The schools are very good academically. they produce brilliant kids, my friend's son is there and he is a christian.
ReplyDeleteExactly. All my brother's kids attended the school and they are all Christians ...
DeleteThat is the stupidity with which some of u Christians reason......did u read the article? They are using these schools as a cover....and in your stupid mind you think the Turkish govt don't have their facts? Did you know people have already been arrested concerning the coup? And don't you think some people have started talking? Coups have sponsors and am sure the Turkish govt have strong evidence
DeleteYou are a fool for calling people stupid.
DeleteWahala deh o
ReplyDeleteThis muslim president that dont have mercy. That is how they behave. Just because they did not succeed you must kill everything that belongs to them.
ReplyDeletePlease don't close the schools mbok.. When I am planning on registering my ward for the exams by February next year.
ReplyDeleteMy daughters and my nephew attend the school in Abuja and they improved x3 in their academics. I had to pull them out from a another private school .
ReplyDeleteI hope and pray the schools aren't shut down.
At the detriment of the other millions of people who stand being at risk cos the fees you pay is used to finance terrorism abi
DeleteErdogan has gone mad , dude is so paranoid it's disgraceful . Wtf!
ReplyDeleteI don't think they shld close d school... Just imagine d people that wil b left stranded students that have spent their time, money and life thinking they wud gain a beta education there nd also d employees re Nigerians how many pple wil b left unemployment expecially this period! Nigerian govt shld be wise
ReplyDeleteThis corrupt edrogan that has presidential palace worth over 500 billion pounds...wished the coup was successful... Wicked Muslims...don't bring your terror wahala here oo
ReplyDeleteNdi iberibe
Lmao. Thats almost americas defense budget for the yr na.
DeleteGuess u mean 500m usd
All of Una wey dey claim say your children, nieces and nephews dey go the school, Una too lie. Una know how much dem dey pay for the school. Bunch of liers. Gerraohere
ReplyDelete* I mean liars*
ReplyDeleteStop calling people liar. Why can't their kids go thete? My daughters wrote the exams, and got the admission. The only reason I didn't send them is because of the fees. 2 kids at once because they are twins.
DeleteIf this is true that means indirectly u parents are financing terrorism.
ReplyDeletewhat ever you are doing don,t abuse each other on things and rumors you don,t know so just keep shut and PRAY TO GOD
ReplyDelete