On Friday, in Nigeria and about other 153 countries, the fi rst anniversary of the unsuccessful coup attempt in Turkey last year was commemorated. Turkish ambassador to Nigeria, Hakan Cakil, while appreciating the position of the government of Nigeria on its position on the coup attempt, gives AWAAL GATA more insights on the development. He also discusses Turkey’s bilateral relations with Nigeria
On the reason for the commemoration Last year on the 15th of July 2016, there was an unsuccessful coup attempt in Turkey. Unfortunately this coup attempt claimed the lives of about 250 Turkish citizens and left more than 2000 casualties who were severely wounded. We are still struggling to overcome the trauma of this threat to our country. Actually, it was not a typical military coup; it was a kind of terrorist uprising. So we can classify it as a major terrorist attack to the sovereignty of Turkey.
A group of terrorists wanted to topple the elected President and government of Turkey which is still popular with majority of Turkish citizens. It is actually very diffi cult to say in words. It was the most bizarre attack in the history of Turkish republic. Th ey used weapons such as fi ghter jets on the civilians in Ankara and Istanbul. Th ey bombed the Turkish parliament and the compound of the Turkish President.
Th ey wanted to assassinate the President and the Prime Minister. So the day is being commemorated across so as to honour the martyrs. On the people behind the coup attempt Fethullah Gulen and his group were behind the unsuccessful coup attempt. And now they are being tried by the Turkish courts. Th e Gulenist movement constitutes a typical case of radicalization by a crop of personalities, so they have infi ltrated the Turkish democracy, the police, the military, etc. Th e prosecutors have gathered crucial evidence against them. Th ere are some testaments or confessions of some of the members of the group.
The position of Nigeria We are very grateful with the position of the government of Nigeria over the coup attempt. From the beginning, the government, the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration supported the Turkish government by reaching out to our President and Prime Minister. On Bilateral relations with Nigeria We have been enjoying excellent relations with Nigeria, if you could remember, the Turkish president visited Nigeria last year in March. It was a very successful visit. Th e presidents of the two countries held a number of very cordial meetings. Trades between the two countries have been steadily increasing over the years,
although the total trade volume seems to have decreased this year because of the reduction in the prices of crude oil, not that the volume of oil and energy we have been importing from Nigeria has reduced. Th ere are more than hundred Nigerian companies operating in Turkey and there are more than 70 to 75 Turkish companies operating in Nigeria. I always encourage the Turkish businessmen to come and invest in Nigeria, the same way I encourage Nigerians to go and invest in Turkey. Even last week, a group of Turkish companies came into Nigeria. In Lagos, several times, big Turkish companies participated in fairs.
Also, in the cultural level, we have strong relations. In the last academic year we off ered 29 state scholarships to Nigerians. Th is academic year and the coming one, we want to double the number. On the trade volume between the two countries, in 2014, it was more than $2 billion. In 2015, it was more than $1 billion. Everything is in favour of Nigeria because we import a lot of oil from Nigeria. On the situation of human rights in Turkey It is completely in line with the European Council’s decisions.
Turkey is not a dictatorship (country). Th e result of the referendum by the international bodies that came to observe its processes declared it as fair, legitimate and legal. Some people especially member of Fethullah organisation are trying to present Turkey as a dictatorship, and it is not. Th ey are always trying to misguide the international media and public. Turkey is a state of law. Everyone has (the) rights to defend him or herself. Every legal trial is being carried out in a very transparent manner.
All the courts are being opened for the people. We also continue our cooperation with the EU, UN, etc. We are always taking to consideration the suggestions or recommendations of the council of Europe, for instance there is a commission of inquiry set up to take care of complaints of the Turkish citizens even if the complaint is on the actions of the government. So the situation of human rights in Turkey is perfect. Clamp down on some media organisations Th e media houses that were shut down were working in favour of Fethullah. Th ey were encouraging misinformation and legitimizing the coup attempt.
I am sure no country would tolerate media activity which advocate or support terrorism or secession. On reconciliation Th e courts will decide that. It is a universal truth that anybody who commits an off ence must be tried… Turkey is doing the same. On the involvement of Nigerians in the coup attempt I have no information that Nigerians were involved in the coup attempt. Last year there were reports by the Nigerian media that Nigerian students in Turkey were arrested; no Nigerian student was arrested in Turkey. It was total fake news spread by terrorist organisation. On shutting down of Nile institutions in Nigeria We never asked that the schools be shut down. We respect the sovereignty of Nigeria and also the Nigerian government. We are in close contact and we never said that
