Turkey’s Coup: Buhari Congratulates Erdogan; Hails Turkish On Failed Attempt

Posted by Wole Oduwole Featured, Latest Headlines, World News Sunday, July 17th, 2016

By Ganiyu Nasirudeen

ABUJA, NIGERIA (AFRICAN EXAMINER) –

President Muhammadu Buhari has joined his US counterpart Barrack Obama and other world leaders in condemning the abortive Turkish coup attempt by a group of rebel army officers and men, which resulted in the death of over 100 people.

Reacting to the tragic events in Ankara, Istanbul and other centres, President Buhari in a statement issued Sunday by his SSA on Media and Publicity Mallam Garba Shehu 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.”

“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”, the President declared.

Buhari also noted that President Erdogan was 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.”

According to the President, “democracy provides peaceful options of changing governments through the ballot box. The ballot box doesn’t require violence to remove any government perceived to have lost its popularity and public support. 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 the face of guns and tanks defied the rebel soldiers and forced them to abandon their mad quest for power.

The Nigerian Leader called on the President of Turkey to pursue reconciliation and offers Nigeria’s support to the government and people of Turkey in their hour of trial.