An Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights
Concern (MURIC) has appealed to the Buhari government to ignore the allegation
made by the visiting Turkish leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Erodgan had told the Nigerian media that Turkish terrorist organisations that tried to remove him from office were in Nigeria.
But MURIC, in a statement signed by Ishaq Akintola, its
national director, advised Buhari to only key into the pragmatic gains of
Erdogan’s visit rather than dissipate energy on a wild-goose chase.
MURIC said that those groups being described as terrorists
by Erdogan have been in Nigeria for over 20 years building primary, secondary
schools, universities, hospitals, engaging in humanitarian services, assisting
poor Muslims to meet religious obligations like hajj and sacrificial animals.
“We heartily welcome the bilateral agreements signed by
Nigeria and Turkey as they have the potential to boost economic and military
advancement in both countries,” MURIC said.
“However, we take the Turkish president’s allegation that
there are Turkish terrorists in Nigeria with a pinch of salt. It is false,
baseless and of no consequence whatsoever.
“We are aware of the existence of Boko Haram and ISWAP
terrorists in the country but we reject the attempt to label innocent Turkish
citizens as terrorists just because there is a political difference between
them and their president.
“He derailed by veering into the issue of opposition members
from his country who reside in Nigeria. He should have ignored them.
“Erdogan’s humongous Muslim hero image [will not] becloud or
diminish MURIC’s commitment to protecting Allah-given fundamental human rights
of Muslims in Nigeria, be it individual or group. This is where the issue of
protecting the rights of members of HIzmet in Nigeria comes in.
“Or is it terrorism to build hospitals and establish
schools? The terrorists that we know (Boko Haram) blow up schools and
hospitals. Is it terrorism to build boreholes for public schools? Is it
terrorism to assist Nigerians on hajj and sacrificial animals? Erdogan is our hero
as a defender of Islam but his allegation of terrorism against these people
does not hold any water at all.
“What we know of them is that they build primary and
secondary schools, universities and hospitals. They also engage in humanitarian
services, assisting poor Muslims to meet religious obligations like hajj and
sacrificial animals.
“They have been in this country for more than 20 years (even
before Erdogan became Prime Minister) and some of the institutions established
by them in Nigeria are two decades old already. A coup which allegedly occurred
in Turkey five years ago while these people were still in Nigeria should not be
hanged on their necks.
“Unfortunately they are already being punished for what took
place in their absence as they are not allowed to return to Turkey ever since
the coup. Members of their families (wives, husbands, children, etc) who are in
Turkey are not allowed to travel out to join them.
“We can understand the sentiment felt by any Muslim who
regards Erdogan as a hero.
“Nonetheless, FG deserves accolades for securing eight
bilateral agreements with Turkey. Some of the agreements include security,
energy, mining and hydrocarbons.
“We advise FG to key into these pragmatic gains of the visit rather than dissipate energy on a wild goose chase. FG should ignore the allegation because Erdogan has no single shred of evidence. It is false, baseless and of no consequence whatsoever.”
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Who cares? Nigeria is not a religious country. Anyone is free to practise any religion that is devoid of criminal practices and procedures. If you cannot live in peace with yourselves or with other religions, please carry your religion and leave the country and let the country get on the path of progress.
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