Melih Gökçek resigns with a curse

Melih Gökçek, who has held the post of mayor for 8671 days, convened an extraordinary session of the Metropolitan Municipal Assembly for his resignation. The meeting was held in the Metropolitan Municipal Conference Salon rather than the Assembly Salon. Gökçek addressed AKP municipal assembly members at the meeting that was unattended by the CHP and MHP groups.

Melih Gökçek, announcing that he was resigning from the post of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor at the order of AKP General Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said, “In my cause, an order cuts iron.” Gökçek concluded his speech, which he started by speaking of his exploits of 23 years, by cursing those who were endeavouring to create a rift between him and Erdoğan.

The main points from Gökçek’s speech are as follow:

Ankara became acquainted with the metro thanks to us. Before us, mud poured out of the taps. We are the first municipality in Turkey to generate electricity from garbage. Steppe Ankara’s name is now green Ankara. When we came we looked for green in Ankara, while now we look for Ankara among the green.

We opened 25 children’s clubs. We distributed 70-kilo aid boxes to citizens. We gave bread aid to 377,000 low-income families. Ankara even got involved with the earthquake in Pakistan. We produced world champions in the Olympics.

I am your brother who has devoted his years to the Ak Party.

The needy have been supported and low-income families have been assisted in Turkey.

The accolade due to the Ak Party government and our leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with regard to this cannot be denied. We as municipalities made a contribution towards such a political administration.

“IN MY CAUSE AN ORDER CUTS IRON”

Especially the opposition media was itching with the thought that I would raise a stink over this affair. What was the reason for me remaining so silent? I come from the morality of a cause. There is no place for individual interests in my cause. There is no self-seeking in my cause. My resignation was wished by my general chair and leader, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan under an assessment that was made. In my cause, an order cuts iron.

There were those who suggested that I oppose this event. I think that if I pave the way by not resigning to my party losing even one vote, this will be a sin. It is not because I think that I am unsuccessful or tired or out of another concern, I am purely and simply complying with a request by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who I think will make my country a leading country.

“SOME PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN HUGE GOSSIP SAYING THAT HE WAS AFRAID OF CERTAIN INVESTIGATIONS.”

Some people will continue to engage in huge gossip saying that he was afraid of certain investigations. I served as mayor for eight years after 1994 in opposition. I have been through about five hundred investigations and examinations. Hardly a day seemed to pass without investigation. I emerged from them all with my good name and did not receive a single penalty. I stand before my people as a person who has had no immunity for 23 years. I have not had a single penalty. I am unblemished before my family and people.

“I CALL OUT TO THOSE MAKING NEWS ABOUT ME AMOUNTING TO VILIFICATION: I AM A MAN OF A CAUSE”

I call out to those making news about me amounting to vilification: I am a man of a cause. I always lined up in the same stance on 28 February, during the Gezi Park actions, on 17-25 December and during the 15 July FETO treason. The people of Ankara voted for this stance and love of service of mine for five terms. My resignation has precisely the same meaning as my stance did in the past. If there is a need to fight for our cause, I am ready. If sacrifice is also called for, I am ready. The devotion and love I have for our cause is beyond debate. I consider causing the slightest harm to our leader and his policies to be harm to oppressed people and the entire Islamic world. I am stepping down as mayor in compliance with our leader President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s order. I am resigning from the post I have held for an unbroken 23 years. I thank all my work colleagues who have devoted their days and nights for Ankara along with me for 23 years. If I have unwittingly made a mistake, let them have their due. I also thank my wife Nevin Gökçek and may she reap her just reward.

CURSE

My final word will take the form of a prayer: Lord, do not grant the opportunity to the rabble rousers among us who appear to be from among us but are not and whose business is to create a rift between our leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and those close to him, and annihilate them.

WIDE-RANGING SECURITY MEASURES TAKEN

Meanwhile, wide-ranging security measure were taken in front of the municipal building due to Melih Gökçek’s resignation. Groups wishing to protest over Gökçek’s resignation in the morning were denied permission by police teams. Searches were also conducted by police dogs at the salon at which Gökçek was to announce his resignation. Members of the press arriving at the salon were admitted to the salon after having undergone a body search.

ATTACK ON AKİT TV ANKARA NEWS MANAGER MEHMET ÖZMEN

While Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Melih Gökçek was announcing his resignation, a large group waiting outside the hall attacked Akit TV Ankara News Manager who was following the events. The police dispersed the large group and removed them from the vicinity of the municipal building.