On Friday, certain members of the Turkish armed forces attempted to overthrow the government in what would have been a military coup but loyal force succeeded in suppressing it. This attempted coup crumbled after crowds answered President Tayyip Erdogan’s call to take to the streets to support him and dozens of rebel soldiers abandoned their tanks in the main city of Istanbul.
Today, President Buhari joined President Barrack Obama and other world leaders in vehemently condemning the abortive coup attempt. Reacting to the tragic events in Ankara, Istanbul and other centres, President Buhari said he was deeply saddened by reports of a violent attempt to dismantle constitutional authority and disrupt the democratically elected government of Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey.
President Buhari said: “The removal of a democratic government by force is no longer acceptable. Violence can never solve any problem but only complicates them and sets back the progress of democratic societies.”
He also noted that President Erdogan is one of Nigeria’s close international partners and sincere supporters in its current war against terrorism, adding that all should resist the destabilization of democratic countries through coups d’état in the 21st century. President Buhari noted that democracy provides peaceful options of changing governments through the ballot box.
According to the president, the ballot box does not require violence to remove any government perceived to have lost its popularity and public support. He added that despite its limitations, democracy is still better and more durable than a violent change of government.
President Buhari praised the courage and immediate response of ordinary citizens who in face of guns and tanks defied the rebel soldiers and forced them to abandon their mad quest for power. He called on the president of Turkey to pursue reconciliation and offered Nigeria’s support to the government and people of the country in their hour of trial.
Comments
Post a Comment