AKP's Osman Gökçek fails to respond to '37 tons of monthly water consumption' claim, calls for Mansur Yavaş's resignation

Ankara Metropolitan Municipality (ABB) Mayor Mansur Yavaş held a press conference today regarding the ongoing water crisis in Ankara and made notable statements.

Pointing to drought and the climate crisis, Yavaş said, "On one hand, a city approaching 6 million people, and on the other, less water arriving each year... The images of the dams are a photograph of this reality. Last year, there was water in all these spots. This picture is Ankara's share of the climate crisis. Our duty is not to hide this reality, but to keep Ankara standing despite this reality."

Continuing his speech, Yavaş responded to criticisms from the ruling party front, stating that not a single drop of water has arrived from the Gerede Project.

"From time to time, politicians make nonsensical speeches about how the existing water is not being delivered to the taps. Currently, the water that will come to the city from the dams is below the water intake structure. When asked why water cannot be provided, there is a famous anecdote about gunpowder.

A commander who arrived at the front asked, 'Tell me, why did you lose the war?'

The soldier said, 'The gunpowder ran out.' The commander replied, 'No need to list the rest.'

There is no water! Not a drop is coming from the Gerede Project to the dam you claimed would suffice until 2050. There is no water, the situation is that simple. Without using this as an excuse, as administrators, we are taking precautions and developing projects on how to provide water to the city."

"HE USES 37 TONS OF WATER PER MONTH"

Noting that the Anadolu Agency adopts a different approach when the subject is Ankara in news about the drought, Yavaş criticized former ABB Mayor Melih Gökçek without naming him directly.

"Unfortunately, some politicians are turning this issue into a polemic. Those who cannot face the people of Ankara are talking about this subject. The judge has become the treasurer, the donkey has become the seal-keeper," said Yavaş, adding the following:

"That person, who shouts and talks on television, continues to use an average of 20 cubic meters of water. He has not saved any water at all. We will all save water together. This problem has become a problem for the entire society. We looked at that politician who shouts and tweets; he uses exactly 37 tons per month in his home. He hasn't saved a single ton. He is probably watering his garden."

OSMAN GÖKÇEK CALLS FOR YAVAŞ'S RESIGNATION

The first reaction to Yavaş's statements regarding the water crisis came from the AKP front. AKP Ankara MP Osman Gökçek claimed that Yavaş did not answer any questions.

Avoiding a response to Yavaş's statement about Melih Gökçek, "he uses 37 tons of water per month," Osman Gökçek invited Yavaş to resign.

The post shared by Osman Gökçek on his X account is as follows:

"Mansur Yavaş could not answer any of the questions posed by the public; the fact that he did not take questions from other members of the press is an indication of this. Instead of a water project, he talked about a few grates he installed in Keçiören and accused the public of lying. He must resign immediately."

Mansur Yavaş kamuoyunun yönelttiği hiçbir soruya cevap veremedi; diğer basın mensuplarından soru almaması da bunun göstergesi. Su projesi yerine Keçiören’de yaptığı birkaç ızgarayı anlattı, halkı yalan söylemekle suçladı. Acil istifa etmeli.

— Osman Gökçek (@OsmanGokcek_) January 14, 2026

News Source: 12punto