Why Obama, Others Ignored Turkish President

Ofem Uket

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday called on world leaders to fight against United States based Islamic scholar Fethulah Gulen over what he (Erdogan) described as an act of terrorism orchestrated by Gulen against Turkey.

Addressing Presidents and Prime Ministers of civilised regimes of the world at the 68th UN General Assembly, Erdogan demonstrated before his colleagues very high level of incapacitation and inability to stick to simple ratified conventions to which Turkey is signatory.

At every statement and declarations credited to presidents of nations at the event, there were responses and reactions including the meeting held between President Barrack Obama of the United States and President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria.

At the meeting between the duo, Obama noted with interest that the US was at any point in time prepared to assist Nigeria to defeat the dreaded Boko Haram Islamic State and insurgency.

Obama and other world leaders have also restated their preparedness to come together to fight terrorism especially the military coalition against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, where earlier Erdogan had threatened to withdraw support if the US did not do his bidding by extraditing Fethulah Gulen.

United States, Russia and other notable super powers in Europe and countries on the continent of Africa are informed very clearly about terrorists organizations across the globe and the Hizmet movement has never been identified as one except as created by President Erdogan himself.

Erdogan shamelessly and lackadaisically declared that the Hizmet participants where ever they find themselves across the world should take responsibility for crises and terrorism.

I make bold to state very clearly here as a seasoned and veteran journalist from Nigeria who has been on the politics desk, economic and financial crimes desk, business and even infrastructure desk, there is so much attached to the name to misinform the general public and the world at large.

Hizmet participants that I know in Nigeria and other parts of Africa are peace loving people with interest in developing education, health and social services sectors of the economy.

All investments and businesses they own are legitimate and regulated by relevant agencies of government, and in Nigeria they have earned many awards of excellence in strategic developments of education, health and social sectors.

President Erdogan had kept fate with his believe that Gulen was responsible for the attempted military take over, but up to this moment he is not capable of conducting high level findings and investigation to determine who the masterminds of the coup were.

It is fakery and obnoxious to choose to blackmail elements opposed to your despotic rule without recourse to due process of investigation.

Erdogan has lied on all fronts to curry favor and attract sympathy from leaders and even pedestrians, unfortunately the courts and law enforcements agencies all over the world work based on evidence, except in Turkey where the President can order for any form of arrest and it will be effected.

“I am calling, from this podium, to all our friends, to swiftly take the necessary measures against the Gulenist terrorist organization for their own safety and the future of their nations,” Erdogan said.

He said the failed coup in Turkey was aimed at world democracy as well. Erdogan blames the July coup, which left at least 270 people dead, on an organization run by Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim cleric who resides in Pennsylvania. The group runs charities, schools and businesses worldwide.

At UNGA, President Barack Obama says Nigeria has made “real progress” against an extremist organization linked to the Islamic State group.

Obama said he and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari discussed additional ways the country’s military can achieve even more progress against Boko Haram militants. The group was responsible for the kidnapping of hundreds of schoolgirls from Chibok in the north eastern region.

Obama said the world is more secure if leaders are prepared to help people in need, but they have to follow through even when the politics and the act of governance are strenuous and hard.

He said leaders must have the empathy to imagine what it would be like for their families if the unspeakable were to happen.

Seemingly speaking of the US, Obama said there are a lot of nations doing the right thing, but many countries, particularly those blessed with wealth and the benefits of geography can do more to help.

President Barack Obama is urging nations to reject authoritarianism and embrace more open societies and grant liberties and freedom to the citizens to allow democratic tenets to flourish.

Published on The Leadership, 22 September 2016, Thursday