Ekrem İmamoğlu does not turn down İmam Hatip middle school students

The first stop for İmamoğlu and Özmen in Eyüpsultan was the Hasret Bazaar. Visiting dozens of shops lined up along the bazaar one by one, İmamoğlu had the opportunity to chat with shopkeepers and citizens.

During the visits, lively conversations took place between İmamoğlu and the citizens.

"I VOTED FOR YOU AFTER GETTING TO KNOW YOU"

In response to a citizen who said, "I hope it will be for the best. Hopefully, we will continue to support you fully together. I am from the East. I never had anything to do with the CHP, but I voted for you after getting to know you. I will vote for you again, God willing," İmamoğlu replied, "I will not let you down. Thank you very much." 

To a young mother who said, "I really want you to win. I have 4 children.

Thanks to you, I am able to buy milk and use the Mother Card. My prayers are always with you," İmamoğlu responded, "How lovely. May God be pleased with you. May God protect them. Your children are our children."

HE SHARED HIS "EKLER İMAMOĞLU" MEMORY

Entering a shop that sells eclairs in the bazaar, İmamoğlu shared a memory with those around him. İmamoğlu recounted the story, saying, "My doctor sent me a message yesterday. He says the children at school have come up with a joke; they find you very sweet, so now your name is 'Ekler İmamoğlu' [Eclair İmamoğlu]." The shop owner jokingly replied, "Can we use that in our advertising?"

During the shopkeeper visit, an elderly citizen addressed İmamoğlu by saying, "Oh, you from the Black Sea; I adore your faith. May God give you strength," which drew laughter. İmamoğlu, who kissed the citizen's hand, replied, "I would sacrifice myself for you. Thank you for your prayer."

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING, MY DEAR?"

To the words of a citizen who hugged him, saying, "I adore you. I would sacrifice myself for you. My mother loves you very much. What are you doing, my dear? I would die for the places you come from. I am from Sivas. I would sacrifice myself for you. Why did I turn back from here? God made me turn back; I would die for you," İmamoğlu replied, "I kiss our mother's hands. You have melted me. My face has turned red, that is enough."

GIRL STUDENTS CONVEYED THEIR ISSUES

A group of girl students, who stated that they were studying at Fatih Sultan Mehmet İmam Hatip Middle School, surrounded İmamoğlu during the visit. İmamoğlu comforted a student who was crying and hugging him with the words, "My dear lamb." 

İmamoğlu replied to the students who complained about the cleanliness of the toilets in their school, "I will send a staff member to the school. If the school administration says, 'Let it be done,' we will fix it quickly. Because we can only enter if they give permission."

"THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THE 'I KNOW EVERYTHING' MENTALITY"

A young hairdresser who was in the market with his master also complained to İmamoğlu about the cost of living, saying, "We are hairdressers, we are looking for a shop. But rents have increased significantly. We cannot afford them. We are complaining about the real estate price hikes." 

İmamoğlu’s response to the citizens was: “Both residences and workplaces; naturally, the rents are high. This is a market. I cannot say anything about the market either. There is a dire economic environment. The fundamental problem right now is economic management. They have rendered the nation’s money worthless. Do you know what the worst thing is?

The idea of a person saying, ‘I know everything.’ I don’t know everything. Our mayor, our Eyüpsultan candidate, managed İGDAŞ, one of Turkey’s largest institutions, for 5 years. I don’t know the budget or energy policies there, but he does. Because he has dedicated his life to it. If I were to say, ‘I know that too, I know this too,’ it wouldn’t work. This is Turkey’s fundamental problem.”

News Source: 12punto