Gökhan Zan's statement on candidacy for Hatay

Former national football player Gökhan Zan, known for his efforts in Hatay, one of the cities most affected by the February 6 earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, has made statements regarding the current agenda.

Speaking to İpek Özbey from Sözcü, Zan responded to a question regarding his potential candidacy for Mayor of Hatay Metropolitan Municipality. Zan stated, "I am wherever the Great Turkish Nation, which has placed me in its heart, wants to see me."

RESPONSE TO LÜTFÜ SAVAŞ

Gökhan Zan also responded to a question regarding Hatay Metropolitan Mayor Lütfü Savaş, the incumbent whose re-nomination has been met with public backlash and who has targeted Zan himself.

Zan said, "What is even more painful is that instead of the pain of the earthquake in Hatay, Lütfü Savaş's political future and his seat are being discussed. Could there be a greater shame for a politician than this? What was it that Mayor Lütfü could not do?"

Responding to İpek Özbey's question, "I know that some parties are after you. Will you be a candidate for mayor?", Gökhan Zan used the expression, "You exist or do not exist only as much as the people want to see you, and where they want to see you."

Stating, "I do not hesitate to make sacrifices for these lands," Gökhan Zan added, "I am aware that politics is not necessary to serve the homeland, and that doing one's duty in the best way possible comes from loving one's country the most."

'I DO NOT HESITATE TO MAKE SACRIFICES FOR MY COUNTRY'

Gökhan Zan said the following:

"You exist or do not exist only as much as the people want to see you, and where they want to see you. I am wherever the Great Turkish Nation, which has placed me in its heart, wants to see me. Whether it is politics or not, as a child of these lands, I do not hesitate to make sacrifices for my country. There is a saying from centuries ago, 'If the subject is the homeland, let us all die'; I am someone who has grown up in such a culture, in the spirituality of a sacred city like Hatay, and who has come to this point by seeing all the difficulties of life.

I am aware that politics is not necessary to serve the homeland, and that doing one's duty in the best way possible comes from loving one's country the most. This is already human, moral, and conscientious. I only wish not to fall from the hearts of our nation.

'I AM DEVASTATED MOST WHEN I SEE THE SIGN FOR UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN'

Positions and offices are worldly things; I want my hometown to return to its former days. Look, while walking on the street in the morning, you face broken, ruined buildings and an endless void, every single day. People, streets, parks, trees, even the birds have diminished. Everywhere you look, there is a different pain, a different loss.

I go to the cemetery often, visiting my relatives and thousands of our fellow citizens. Dozens of people, dozens of stories, dozens of losses, pain... I am devastated most when I see the sign for 'unaccompanied girls and boys'; I rebel, I get angry... This is not a situation that can be endured. No one can ignore these realities. They all have a right over us; we have a debt of conscience to them."

RESPONSE TO MELİH GÖKÇEK: A BEING WITHOUT SHAME

When asked by Özbey, "Why did Gökçek say to you, 'You should have been an artist instead of a football player'?", Zan gave the following response:

"Melih Gökçek is a pathetic species that has shelved political decency and feeds on political shamelessness. Unfortunately, medical science has not yet produced a cure for him. He is an exceptional species that does not deem the good and the beautiful worthy of the Anatolian people, a being without any sense of shame. In short, a hopeless case."

STATEMENT ON VOLKAN DEMİREL

Zan also spoke as follows regarding Hatay Metropolitan Mayor Lütfü Savaş targeting him through Hatayspor Coach Volkan Demirel:

"There is no resentment between Volkan Demirel and me, nor is there any such situation as Mr. Lütfü Savaş claims, and there cannot be. First of all, we are people who have always been known for standing side by side in our sports lives, fighting for a common cause, and having successful careers, and we have won the appreciation of the public.

Both of us were where we needed to be when we were needed most. I will not allow anyone to create political hostility over our losses by using me, Volkan Demirel, or anyone else as an excuse. This is a great sin, and this sin will burn its owner. Therefore, this entirely concerns the person making the claim."

SAVAŞ HAD TARGETED DEMİREL AND ZAN

While reactions from earthquake survivors and politicians continue regarding the CHP re-nominating Lütfü Savaş in Hatay, one of the cities most devastated by the February 6 earthquakes, Lütfü Savaş announced that he would not withdraw from the candidacy and targeted former national football player Gökhan Zan and Hatayspor Coach Volkan Demirel over the protests against him.

Calling the calls for his withdrawal a 'conspiracy' and saying about those protesting him, "We know who they are," Lütfü Savaş claimed, referring to Zan, "He was the one who mobilized the protesters."

Lütfü Savaş had stated, "When Gökhan Zan quit sports, I embraced him, helped him, took him into the team; he was receiving a salary from the municipality. I was the one who put his ring on."

Savaş had said the following:

HE HAD SAID, 'WHATEVER HAPPENED TO ZAN HAPPENED AFTER DEMİREL ARRIVED'

"When Gökhan Zan quit sports, I embraced him, helped him, took him into the team; he was receiving a salary from the municipality. I was the one who put his ring on. He said, 'I will go to Europe and take lessons,' I said, 'Okay,' he said goodbye and left. There is no resentment between us. But whatever happened, happened after Volkan Demirel came to Hatayspor."

News Source: 12punto