Turkey owes Nigeria apology for alluding students are terrorists – Rep Suleiman
Aminu Suleiman, chairman of the House of Reps Committee on Tertiary Education and Services, represents Fagge Federal Constituency in Kano State. In this interview, he speaks on the recent call by the Turkish government to Nigeria to shut down 17 schools following the recent failed coup attempt in Turkey.
Rep Aminu Suleiman
The Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Hakan Cakil, has reportedly called on the Nigerian government to close down the Nigerian Turkish International Colleges (NITC), Nizamiye Hospital and the Nigerian Turkish Nile University, alleging that their proprietor was running a terrorist organization and planning to overthrow the Turkish government. How do you see that?
As a country, our president has spoken. Nigeria has been supporting democratic endeavours across the world. What is reprehensible is for another country to give directive to another country. I find that worrisome.
As a superintendent responsible for the oversight of that sector, the Turkish community doesn’t stop at providing the basics of education; they are involved in tertiary education too here in Nigeria. My role also covers some vicarious oversight of private institutions. I can tell you that our eagle eyes have been on all private universities operating in Nigeria, Turkish inclusive.
I make bold to say that within the period that we are privileged to supervise them, we can bear testimony that they have done the best they could to promote not only education but also good morals. They have the first school that gave scholarship not only on academics but also on good morale.
On three occasions, the committee was invited when the institution engaged in social corporate responsibility. They do provide indigent children with scholarships and they visit public schools to donate uniforms and stationeries.
He is personally classifying those schools as places for breeding terrorists. I think Nigeria must demand an apology from him, because he’s saying that our children are already terrorists. He should apologize to Nigeria and Nigerians in my opinion.
In the course of your work, have you ever come across any report that said one of the institutions has some terror links?
I can tell you, in fairness to them, we haven’t received report of any such thing. Unlike in public schools where we have responsibility to venture into administration and all aspects, in private schools, our attention is usually restricted to the conduct and moral upbringing.
We believe that as private institutions, they shouldn’t be allowed to compromise in academics, morality and what have you, or anything that will make Nigerians regret investing in such venture. So far, we have not seen anything that indicates that they are embroiled in anything capable of jeopardizing the peace of Nigeria or affecting the moral upbringing of our children.
Some concerned parents said the Turkish government has smeared the image of Nigeria and they resolved to write a letter to the executives and another one to the House; what would you do when they write?
I have not received any letter yet, but my phone has been inundated with calls from parents and concerned Nigerians expressing their disgust over that statement and that their children who have been receiving quality and worthy training have been so classified. They are requesting us to plead with government not to listen to the request of the Turkish ambassador.
I can assure Nigerians that we’re on the same page with them. But if tomorrow something comes to confirm the allegations by the Turkish ambassador, that is a different ball game altogether, and we’ll change our position.
If there is no evidence, it means Nigeria’s image has been damaged internationally; what will the lawmakers do?
We have the responsibility to insist that the executive arm must do the best it can to call the Turkish ambassador to order, which means calling on the attention of the Turkish government not to do anything that will destroy the good working relationship that exists between these two countries. I think the ambassador reacted on impulse.
But what he said suggested that the indoctrination is not done here but that those going to Turkey on scholarship are being trained for terrorist acts; could that be possible?
If that’s the case, he’s now saying that his country is a breeding ground for terrorists. We are not aware of that, and I think we shouldn’t do anything to discourage any organization that is willing to assist Nigerians to advance their careers individually and collectively. Our security agencies are capable of scrutinizing any donor agency that exists within or outside us. We’re not a ‘banana republic’ that will sit down with people and we don’t know their background.
All of those awarded scholarships went there five to six years ago, and they have all returned. None of them has ever been found wanting in any respect.
How do you view the issue of dichotomy between HND and Bsc? Would you advise that it should be abrogated?
Unfortunately, we’ve not been able to take a position as a House, but I can tell you that though there are varying positions among colleagues, the consensus opinion is that it is high time we do away with it. It is not helping anybody; rather it is hurting the aspiration of Nigeria to become technologically positioned.
I haven’t seen on a comparative analysis that a student who has Bsc is academically more sound or brighter than the one with HND. It depends on individuals.
As a person, I’ll work and support the abrogation of this dichotomy. I’m happy that the executive arm has put machinery in motion to ensure the realization of this. As soon as the National Assembly is approached, some of us will work towards its passage.
The ministry of education recently abrogated the post-JAMB examination done by candidates seeking admission to universities; was there any consultation with the National Assembly?
There was no consultation, and several of our colleagues had reasons to ask questions and demanded explanations, which were not officially available to us. However, this is one issue that continues to agitate the minds of most honourable members from the perspective of the fact that Nigerian students are being made to write so many exams before gaining admission into any of our tertiary institutions.
There have been debates for and against this multiplicity in testing and admitting our students into tertiary institutions. Therefore, this came as one step that many saw as a relief.
It is good that you scrap the post-UTME, but if you do that, how will the universities admit?
Rep Aminu Suleiman
The Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Hakan Cakil, has reportedly called on the Nigerian government to close down the Nigerian Turkish International Colleges (NITC), Nizamiye Hospital and the Nigerian Turkish Nile University, alleging that their proprietor was running a terrorist organization and planning to overthrow the Turkish government. How do you see that?
As a country, our president has spoken. Nigeria has been supporting democratic endeavours across the world. What is reprehensible is for another country to give directive to another country. I find that worrisome.
I make bold to say that within the period that we are privileged to supervise them, we can bear testimony that they have done the best they could to promote not only education but also good morals. They have the first school that gave scholarship not only on academics but also on good morale.
On three occasions, the committee was invited when the institution engaged in social corporate responsibility. They do provide indigent children with scholarships and they visit public schools to donate uniforms and stationeries.
He is personally classifying those schools as places for breeding terrorists. I think Nigeria must demand an apology from him, because he’s saying that our children are already terrorists. He should apologize to Nigeria and Nigerians in my opinion.
In the course of your work, have you ever come across any report that said one of the institutions has some terror links?
I can tell you, in fairness to them, we haven’t received report of any such thing. Unlike in public schools where we have responsibility to venture into administration and all aspects, in private schools, our attention is usually restricted to the conduct and moral upbringing.
We believe that as private institutions, they shouldn’t be allowed to compromise in academics, morality and what have you, or anything that will make Nigerians regret investing in such venture. So far, we have not seen anything that indicates that they are embroiled in anything capable of jeopardizing the peace of Nigeria or affecting the moral upbringing of our children.
Some concerned parents said the Turkish government has smeared the image of Nigeria and they resolved to write a letter to the executives and another one to the House; what would you do when they write?
I have not received any letter yet, but my phone has been inundated with calls from parents and concerned Nigerians expressing their disgust over that statement and that their children who have been receiving quality and worthy training have been so classified. They are requesting us to plead with government not to listen to the request of the Turkish ambassador.
I can assure Nigerians that we’re on the same page with them. But if tomorrow something comes to confirm the allegations by the Turkish ambassador, that is a different ball game altogether, and we’ll change our position.
If there is no evidence, it means Nigeria’s image has been damaged internationally; what will the lawmakers do?
We have the responsibility to insist that the executive arm must do the best it can to call the Turkish ambassador to order, which means calling on the attention of the Turkish government not to do anything that will destroy the good working relationship that exists between these two countries. I think the ambassador reacted on impulse.
But what he said suggested that the indoctrination is not done here but that those going to Turkey on scholarship are being trained for terrorist acts; could that be possible?
If that’s the case, he’s now saying that his country is a breeding ground for terrorists. We are not aware of that, and I think we shouldn’t do anything to discourage any organization that is willing to assist Nigerians to advance their careers individually and collectively. Our security agencies are capable of scrutinizing any donor agency that exists within or outside us. We’re not a ‘banana republic’ that will sit down with people and we don’t know their background.
All of those awarded scholarships went there five to six years ago, and they have all returned. None of them has ever been found wanting in any respect.
How do you view the issue of dichotomy between HND and Bsc? Would you advise that it should be abrogated?
Unfortunately, we’ve not been able to take a position as a House, but I can tell you that though there are varying positions among colleagues, the consensus opinion is that it is high time we do away with it. It is not helping anybody; rather it is hurting the aspiration of Nigeria to become technologically positioned.
I haven’t seen on a comparative analysis that a student who has Bsc is academically more sound or brighter than the one with HND. It depends on individuals.
As a person, I’ll work and support the abrogation of this dichotomy. I’m happy that the executive arm has put machinery in motion to ensure the realization of this. As soon as the National Assembly is approached, some of us will work towards its passage.
The ministry of education recently abrogated the post-JAMB examination done by candidates seeking admission to universities; was there any consultation with the National Assembly?
There was no consultation, and several of our colleagues had reasons to ask questions and demanded explanations, which were not officially available to us. However, this is one issue that continues to agitate the minds of most honourable members from the perspective of the fact that Nigerian students are being made to write so many exams before gaining admission into any of our tertiary institutions.
There have been debates for and against this multiplicity in testing and admitting our students into tertiary institutions. Therefore, this came as one step that many saw as a relief.
It is good that you scrap the post-UTME, but if you do that, how will the universities admit?
JAMB proceeded and allocated numbers to the universities without knowing their carrying capacities. A university that will have space for additional 2,000 students, JAMB sent 10,000, 15,000 or 20,000 students. How will that university now admit 2,000 out of the pool of 10,000? The issue now is that there must be one form of screening or the other in whatever name you want to call it.
We’re happy, though we were not consulted, that the ministry through JAMB has put the reverse gear. What they’re saying is that they will send the list to the universities, which will short-list what they can accommodate and send the list to JAMB to issue admission letters. These are issues on which we have already directed our secretariat to invite JAMB, the ministry and NUC to come and brief us.
Dailytimes.com
We’re happy, though we were not consulted, that the ministry through JAMB has put the reverse gear. What they’re saying is that they will send the list to the universities, which will short-list what they can accommodate and send the list to JAMB to issue admission letters. These are issues on which we have already directed our secretariat to invite JAMB, the ministry and NUC to come and brief us.
Dailytimes.com
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