The Presidency has said that it will not allow any business
entity operating within its domain to undermine its relationship with the Republic
of Turkey.
This is according to a piece published on Sunday by the
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu,
titled ‘Takeaways from President Buhari’s epic visit to Turkey.’
The Presidency was referring to “some Turkish investments,
schools and hospitals associated with an opposition figure linked to the
abortive coup and attempted assassination of President Erdogan.”
According to a report published on October 21, 2021, the
Turkish President, Recep Erdogan, during a joint press conference with the
President, Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja, said that the terrorists who tried to
remove him through a coup in 2016 are still active in Nigeria.
Erdogan who was on a two-day official visit to Nigeria had
in 2016 accused allies of a renowned cleric, Fethullah Gulen, who own Turkish
schools and hospitals across Nigeria, of sponsoring the coup.
Turkish envoy in Nigeria, Mr Hakan Cakil, had at the time
called on Buhari to close these Turkish schools and hospitals in Nigeria
belonging to a group of private Turkish investors who are inspired by the
philosophy of the Hizmet movement.
The Nigerian government, however, rejected the proposal,
straining relations between both countries.
In what appears to be a reconciliatory move, Erdogan in
October told Buhari that his administration would continuously share
intelligence with Nigerian authorities.
On Sunday, shortly after Buhari’s return from Turkey, the
Presidency said “As we go into January next year, a team from the Turkish
defence establishment is expected to be in Nigeria in the effort to advance the
discussions on the issue of military procurement.
“The national security component equally has a Turkish angle
to it and one that turned to be one of the gains, in the sense that both
countries have a common view of what Turkey perceives as a security threat to
their nation and its leaders present in Nigeria.
“This is about some Turkish investments, schools and
hospitals associated with an opposition figure linked to the abortive coup and
attempted assassination of President Erdogan.
“This had existed as a critical but unspoken issue, with the
potential to undermine the relationship despite the strong bond of friendship
based on trust between the leaders of the two nations. It appears however that
a strong common ground and understanding is reached.
“The government of Nigeria will not allow any part of our
territory to be used to undermine a friendly state such as Turkey. Under our
strict Central Bank and Financial Intelligence Unit’s governance structure and
management, money from the investments in issue cannot be moved anywhere to
finance subversive activities.”
It added that “While protection of foreign investment is
sacrosanct, the government clearly will not allow interest, individual or
group, to undermine the very warm and cordial relationship between the two
nations.”
Referencing Turkey’s interest in Africa, the Presidency
opined that “the embrace of Turkey by Africa is a logical path to follow, given
that the country had gone through the big economies in search of economic and
national development, abandoned that process and became, on their own, the
fastest growing economy in Europe.
“Turkey is serious about working with Africa in a win-win
relationship. Though not yet accepted as a member of the EU, it is a major
player in the continent in many ways and is a member of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization. Turkey also has strong links in the Middle East.
“In Asia, the
competition is stiff, with China, Japan, South Korea and the rest. But see what
discipline, national mobilization and determination have brought Turkey to
where it is today. So, Africa may seem for them, a good bet for solidarity and
market.
“For us on the continent, it is not in doubt that the big
countries are not outrightly helpful at all times. In some instances, as with
the COVID-19 vaccine, we have seen how it might become right.”
According to Shehu, in going to Turkey, the position of the
President’s team was: If the partnership through the multilateral process works
for us, it will help.
“All six ministers on the delegation held meetings with
their respective counterparts to deepen the good bilateral relations between
us. We went there in search of partnerships, partnerships that Nigeria stands
to gain from.
“When he came here in October, President Erdogan and
President Buhari had the two countries sign three Memoranda of Understanding,
MoUs, and four agreements on a variety of subjects that included political
consultation, energy, hydrocarbons, mining, youth, double taxation and the
reform and development of the Defence Industries Corporation, DIC in Kaduna.
“The starting point of this engagement was the meeting
between the two leaders-President Muhammadu Buhari and the Turkish counterpart,
Recep Erdogan. The tone of this meeting was itself set by the officials who
accompanied the President: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Defence,
National Security Adviser and the Director-General, National Intelligence
Agency. And from all accounts, the meeting met all expectations: Turkish leader
Erdogan agreed to work with President Buhari in tackling insurgents and other
security challenges facing this country,” the Presidency said.
On Infrastructure, the Presidency said Turkey has achieved
so much in something very close to the heart of Buhari.
“As it is now, we are reliant on just one country for
infrastructure and Turkey should help us to diversify.
“From these bilateral meetings, the ground has been laid for
the setting up of education, health and leisure projects including the proposal
for a big hotel and conference centre project in Abuja.
“In the not-too-distant future, the administration of the
Federal Capital Territory will be receiving a team of investors including the
world-famous Ma’arif Foundation to be shown exact locations for the setting up
of a five-star hotel and conference centre, schools and a world-class
hospital.”
It added that President Buhari was in Turkey on a special
request by the Turkish President saying “By an earlier agreement, the number of
African leaders at the four-yearly summit was rationalised to just 15, and
leaders were chosen to attend as representatives of either the African Union or
the elected leaders of sub-regional groups such as ECOWAS, the South African
Development Community, and the rest.
“ Each sub-regional leader presented a representative
statement, and in the case of ECOWAS, it was President Nana Akufo-Addo of
Ghana, its Chairman. No national statements were planned for, except for
Nigeria where our President was given a special speaking opportunity.”
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