Turkey Envoy and the Hizmet Movement
Last December, a Non-Governmental Organisation of dubious antecedents, claimed that the position canvassed by media personalities in Nigeria during the political crisis in Turkey are suggestive of the fact that the Nigerian media cannot be trusted in reporting objectively the state of affairs in Turkey. The report went further to state that Hizmet Movement, a peace initiative founded by Fethulah Gulen, the Islamic scholar primarily to promote peace, education and address social inequality, was responsible for the July 2016 coup in Turkey.
Another NGO published yet a second article purportedly alerting the federal government about the activities of the Nigeria Tulip International Colleges, an agency of the First Surat Group of companies, associating the organisation with terrorism.
The proprietors of NTIC are members of Hizmet and they are without doubt proudly identified by their bias in education, health and social sectors of the economy. Their activities are therefore not hidden to the Nigerian government and the public.
Nigeria’s regulatory agencies in the health and education sectors can confirm the excellent performance of this group of investors under the foreign direct investment (FDI).
NTIC has been in existence in the country for years and adheres to the guidelines and laws governing the establishment of institutions and other forms of investments that it owns. Once there is effective compliance on the side of investors, Nigeria as a country does not go after innocent people in order to frustrate their efforts. We need genuine contribution to the growth and development of the nation’s economy.
The blackmail and culture of destruction being introduced by foreign envoys in Nigeria has to be critically reviewed, considering the fact that a country with the population strength of about 180 million people cannot be underestimated. It is the responsibility of the federal government to identify genuine businesses and transactions around the economy, using the instrumentality of the state security apparatus and other related agencies to determine and regulate the activities and operations of foreign investors in Nigeria.
The desirability of some people and countries using their envoys in Nigeria to carry out illicit activities is a force that has to be contained. European countries put in checks any form of interference from neighbours and other countries of the World. Nigeria cannot afford to do less. It should convey a strong message to those envoys that are known for infiltrating ranks of top government functionaries with a view to interfere in government policies and programmes.
When the states and federal government require the support and assistance of any foreign envoy, they should be communicated through the right channels and until such assistance is sought, it will be diplomatically expedient for envoys to remain silent on state matters that do not concern them.
I watched with interest and amazement the undue interference of Turkish envoy in the governance of Nigeria, how it tries to create a romance with government agencies to destroy Hizmet participants in Nigeria. Our laws allow freedom of expression and association, including of religious beliefs, not minding your colour and ethnic background.
Nigerians have respect for the rule of law just as persons and group of people should not be allowed to weaken institutions entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the rights and liberties of citizens.
The Turkish ambassador has shown clearly that his home government has lost the capacity to protect its citizens except those in the good books of President Erdogan and his administration.
That may not mean much in Turkey, but certainly not in Nigeria.
Ofem Uket, Abuja