The Turkish ambassador to Nigeria, Hakan Cakil, has called on the Federal Government to close 17 Turkish schools in Nigeria over 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 Affairs 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 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 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. (NAN)

After everything , Erdogan will always Erdogan

Turkey should face their Islamic problems and leave us alone to manage our already battered economy

Hmnnnn

Okay that explains how funds moved from Nigeria to Turkey ..clearly proceeds from the exorbitant school fees ...Those schools are a source of capital flight and should be closed if they don't belong to Nigerians

ok

Is alright

That serves us right. Do we have Nigeria schools in Turkey? It's high time we stop using other countries' names in our Schools to avoid insults like this in the future.

Those schools must not be shut down
Infact, we shall start to contribute to the school to fund more coups
who knows, one day it might just be our town

I like this movie

What concerns Nigeria's education with coup plot in Turkey?

Where are all these 17 schs situated sef

Nickymezor:
Where are all these 17 schs situated sef

Ever heard of the Nigerian-Turkish academy in Lagos, Kano and Abuja? also the Nile-Turkish university

Not every Turkey is torkey. Most of them are fowl. Every Turkey thing in Nigeria is very costly and standard. School, hotel, hospital, etc

Now that they have drag Nigeria who is standing on one leg into their problem. What shld we do.

idupaul:
Okay that explains how funds moved from Nigeria to Turkey ..clearly proceeds from the exorbitant school fees ...Those schools are a source of capital flight and should be closed if they don't belong to Nigerians

Wtf are u saying The schools are in nigeria, so capital flight to where?? Pls stop blabing!

blackpanda:



Wtf are u saying The schools are in nigeria, so capital flight to where?? Pls stop blabing!

So you think the Turkish people that own the school built it for Charity ..they bleeping built to to make profit which they repatriate to their country .

idupaul:


So you think the Turkish people that own the school built it for Charity ..they bleeping built to to make profit which they repatriate to their country .

My friend u dont know what u are saying. Thats not the meaning of capital flight. Those schools pay taxes, pay dues n tenement rates, develop infrastructure, employ people, plus the money they collect r routed thru nigerian banks etc. The nigerian state benefits more that they are here, rather that u carrying scarce forex to go pay expensive school fees abroad. That is the real capital flight.

ministeriallist:
That serves us right. Do we have Nigeria schools in Turkey? It's high time we stop using other countries' names in our Schools to avoid insults like this in the future.

[size=18pt]Nigerian Turkish International Colleges/Nile university shut down ain't seeing the light of day for the following reasons:[/size]
1)Contribution by these guys in reducing unemployment cant be overlooked
2)Minimum pay by these guys is what our government cant even afford,when I joined it was just a little below 100g's (salary doesn't exceed 31st of every month).
3)Your corrupt officials tuned the minds of these white guys about utilizing cheap labor and getting involved in exam malpractice (if that ever get raised) so as to advertise the school.
4)80% of the branches are situated in core northern areas,with its students being mostly those of the elite(remind me which school for Nigeria fit absorb these kids if them shut down there children school?)

my1cent

....Ghen Ghen!!....

Wait till Mark Zuckerberg orders the closure of Facebook school.

The schools have nothing to do with Nigeria too, other than they're in Nigeria. And since it belongs to Turks, so I, as a layman see nothing wrong in the name. If there's sth wrong in it however, I believe a change of name should suffice.

17 schools is alot. The Turkish government shouldn't bring it's clampdown here.

Nigeria should ignore the request because of its political undertones as it will lead to loss of taxes accruing to the State and loss of employment for Nigerians working in those schools.

Nigeria is not Somalia where Erdogan has made them closed down all the schools and hospitals run by his perceived enemy even the only dialysis centre serving so many was not spared!

Oga restrict that ur clamp down to Turkey. 'Cause here in Nija, we aint closing down any sch, unless u Turks are willing to pay the taxes and salaries those schs inject into our already battered economy.

Anyway, I trust @MBuhari on this.

Yungchukzy:
Ever heard of the Nigerian-Turkish academy in Lagos, Kano and Abuja? also the Nile-Turkish university

Nt @ all... Anyway tnx fr d info... was jst curious

hilaomo:
[size=18pt]Nigerian Turkish International Colleges/Nile university shut down ain't seeing the light of day for the following reasons:[/size]
1)Contribution by these guys in reducing unemployment cant be overlooked
2)Minimum pay by these guys is what our government cant even afford,when I joined it was just a little below 100g's (salary doesn't exceed 31st of every month).
3)Your corrupt officials tuned the minds of these white guys about utilizing cheap labor and getting involved in exam malpractice (if that ever get raised) so as to advertise the school.
4)80% of the branches are situated in core northern areas,with its students being mostly those of the elite(remind me which school for Nigeria fit absorb these kids if them shut down there children school?)

my1cent

I quite agree with you.
Well, No. 3. should rather read: Our corrupt officials