Bilal Erdoğan targets İmamoğlu: 'This man has just been slacking off'

The 'Nöbetçiler' (Sentinels) group, consisting of volunteers who have previously served in various levels of the AKP organization but currently hold no active positions, held the first of its Istanbul Meetings in Bahçelievler.

President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's son and World Ethnosport Confederation President Bilal Erdoğan also attended the discussion. In his speech there, Erdoğan targeted Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

"ISTANBUL HAS NOT BEEN MANAGED WELL"

Bilal Erdoğan stated, "As long as this polarization in Turkey, which resembles a struggle between right and wrong, continues in this way, we are on watch, and with God's permission, we will continue to be on watch. We have truly approached these 5 years, 4 and a half years. Unfortunately, Istanbul has not been managed well during these 4 and a half years. They knew they could not manage it well, so in many matters they said, 'Ankara is hindering us. We cannot do it because the government is blocking us. Otherwise, what wouldn't we do?' Why did they use this? They were supposedly going to be Vice Presidents, 8-9 people were going to take office in Beştepe at once. That was the supposed scenario, and that is their argument. 'They cannot do it because Ankara is blocking us. Just give us the government and then you will see.' Now, the nation has not given you the government again. Then say this, if you can: 'Well, the government is not in our hands, we will still not be able to fulfill our promises.' Say that then. Isn't that so? Therefore, if Ankara was hindering you, why are you coming and aspiring to this position?"

"Whoever becomes mayor of Istanbul, we will compare them to Tayyip Erdoğan"

Erdoğan said, "When our President became the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality in 1994, even though Ankara was truly hindering him, he did not use it as an excuse. What did he do? He dealt with service every day. He stood by his citizens every day. He saved Istanbul from trash, mud, and potholes. Now, we live in an Istanbul that is perhaps 30 times richer than it was 30 years ago, in a country that is 30 times richer. There is no such debt, the economy is this strong, many of Istanbul's fundamental problems have been solved, but the gentleman still cannot keep his promises. He hides behind many excuses. He says, 'Vacation suits me. Sleeping suits me.' Whenever he is in a tight spot, he pops up from Bodrum, or somewhere else. Istanbul cannot be managed like this. A man who has a passion for Istanbul, who loves Istanbul, does not have his eyes elsewhere. Therefore, whoever becomes the mayor of Istanbul, we will always compare them to Tayyip Erdoğan, who became the mayor of Istanbul in '94. We will set the bar there. We will ask, 'Are you keeping your promises? Do you go to sleep with Istanbul and wake up with Istanbul?'"

"THIS MAN HAS JUST BEEN SLACKING OFF, LET US AT LEAST SAVE ISTANBUL"

Erdoğan concluded his remarks as follows:

"Therefore, this man has not done this job. This man has just been slacking off. This man has set his sights on Ankara. Is he going to take over the CHP? Is he going to become President? We will spend our lives waiting for these things. Let us at least save Istanbul."

News Source: İHA