Turkish President Erdoğan speaks with Buhari, wants Nigeria to support Palestine By Ibrahim Ramalan

Turkish President Recep Tayyep Erdoğan has expressed hope that Nigeria would support Palestine in the raging Israel-Gaza conflict. In a telephone conversation he had with President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday May 13, the Turkish leader said he had fruitful discussions with the Nigerian leader. “We held a telephone conversation with Nigerian President Mohammad Buhari. We mutually congratulated Ramadan Bayram during the meeting,” Mr Erdoğan posted on his verified Facebook page. “I expressed that because of the attacks on Palestine, I believe that the international community is striving to teach Israel without law, justice and conscience, and Nigeria will show solidarity with Palestinians in this right case.” On Saturday, the Nigerian presidency released a statement, saying Mr Buhari had originated a phone call across to his Turkish counterpart where the two leaders had fruitful discussions. The statement is however silent on the Israel-Gaza conflict. Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, quoted the president as expressing satisfaction with existing bilateral ties between the two countries. The Nigerian leader called for greater Turkish participation in the economy and the humanitarian efforts in the Northeast. The president used the occasion to extend ”a sincere message of goodwill and felicitation on the important occasion of Eid-el-Fitr to President Erdoğan and the people of Turkey.” He also expressed ”gratitude to Allah for sparing our lives and granting us the ability to perform the important obligations of the month of Ramadan.” According to the presidential aide, the two leaders expressed their earnest desire for peace and stability to reign in the world, and for an end to all ongoing conflicts as well as the COVID-19 pandemic.