Buhari Congratulates Turkey On Successful Referendum But Rejects Same In Nigeria
In an ironic twist, President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the people and government of Turkey on the successful conclusion of the country’s referendum on Monday, while he has continued to insist that there will be no referendum on the question of Nigeria’s unity.
Members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have been calling for a referendum to determine if the mainly Igbo people of the South East wants to continue in the Nigerian federation.
Nigeria fought a 30 months civil war from 1967 to 1970 over attempts by ‘Biafra’ to secede from the Nigerian federation.
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Buhari in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Monday congratulated Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his foresight.
The President commended Erdogan for his maturity in leading his people to the polls to decide on the future of leadership for the country that would further deepen peace and stability.
According to him, the referendum showcases the democratic credentials of the country and reflects a willingness of the Turkish people to live together and jointly pursue a better future.
Erdogan won 51.3 per cent of the votes in a referendum on Sunday to grant him sweeping powers in the biggest overhaul of modern Turkish politics.
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However, opposition parties said the exercise was marred by irregularities, adding that they would challenge its result.
“Turkey’s mainly Kurdish southeast and its three main cities, including the capital Ankara and the largest city Istanbul, looked set to vote No, after a bitter and divisive campaign,’’ a local newspaper reported on Sunday.
