Terrorists Who Tried To Overthrow Me Are in Nigeria – Turkey President Claims
Category: Africa News
The President of Turkey, Recep Erdogan, says the terrorists who tried to
remove him through a coup in 2016 are still active in Nigeria.
Erdogan said this on Wednesday at a joint press conference with
President
Muhammadu Buhari, on the occasion of his two-day official visit to the country.
Recall that Erdogan had in 2016 accused allies of renowned cleric,
Fethullah Gulen, who own Turkish schools and hospitals across Nigeria, of
sponsoring the coup.
Also See:
Islamic Group Warns Turkey President, Erdogan As He Visits Nigeria
Turkish envoy in Nigeria, Mr. Hakan Cakil, had at the time called on
Buhari to close the 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 had, however, rejected
the proposal, causing tension between both countries.
In what
appears to be a reconciliatory move, Erdogan on Wednesday told
Buhari
that his administration would share intelligence with Nigerian authorities.
He
said, “As Turkey, we have been closely monitoring the development in Nigeria,
our brotherly and friendly nation. The terrorist organizations, the armed
gangs and the marine vendors are continuously active in Nigeria and the
Nigerian authorities are continuously fighting them.
“In order to
cooperate further in the field of military operations, defense and security,
we are doing everything that will be available. We are ready to share our
capabilities, every extending capacity as Turkey with Nigeria, especially in
the field of defense, industry and security which are being praised by the
globe.
“The sensitivity we show in fighting terrorism, I hope will
be reciprocated by our Nigerian brothers and sister and our counterparts. The
perpetrators of the heinous failed coup of July the 15 FETO are still very
active in Nigeria. And we are continually sharing our intelligence with
Nigerian interlocutors and authorities.”
The Turkish President
stated that he hoped to expand trade volume from the current $2bn to $5bn
between Nigeria and his country.
He said he was hopeful that the
relations between Nigeria and Turkey would be further developed on the basis
of a win-win situation and on the basis of mutual respect.
In his
speech,
Buhari
revealed that he signed eight major agreements/Memoranda of Understanding on
several key sectors including energy, defense industry, mining and
hydrocarbons among others.
This is as he added that implementation
of all eight agreements will commence immediately.
If they are here to work then God will; fail them in Jesus name
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