National Opinion (Milli Görüş) municipalism was a great chance for our country. Let’s look briefly to the history of this fortunate period: the surprise political party of the local election on March 27th 1994 was the Welfare (Refah) Party (RP). The RP triumphed from this election. With victory in 6 metropolises (İstanbul, Ankara, Diyarbakir, Erzurum, Konya, Kayseri), 22 provinces, 92 districts and 207 towns it won a total of 327 mayoralties.
All eyes were turned on the RP. What would these municipalities do? The opponents expected that they would soon stumble and shade away. But they were going to be wrong.The RP was not just a political party but it was also the representative of a rooted ideal. It was really equipped.
For years, preparations were made on what can be done in local administrations. It is said that the person working under the command, adjusts his position according to the attitude of his manager. Decedent Erbakan Hodja and his team had prepared a really tremendous program. So to speak, all mayor candidates had memorized this program. That program was implemented and sequences of magnificent activities appeared with the name “National Opinion Municipalism.”
Even it is said that forgetfulness is the vulnerability of human memory, conscientious people will remember those days and the activities of the RP municipalities with appreciation. What did these municipalities do? Firstly, it constituted a good team. This team was designed to work 24/7. There was no room for getting bored and being tired. Those whose work ended at 12 AM called themselves lucky. This team started with regulating the income and expense of the municipalities in debt binge. Debts began to be paid out quickly. After that, sleeves were rolled up and activities such as road, water, pavement, asphalt, social services, pioneering to the construction of schools and mosques, implementing housing projects, replant the environment, making parklands, staking a claim on poor people etc. went into action.
Let me give an example of the city where I live. Welfare (Refah) Party won also the district Sehitkamil of Gaziantep. Its Mayor was my uncle Mehmet Bozgeyik. The people of Gaziantep are still appreciating the activities made in that time. There was no mosque in that district. They pioneered to the construction of 54 mosques. 150 parklands were made. Condolence houses in our country were made firstly in this district. Roads, pavements, streets, boulevards were competing with European cities. Tens of thousands trees were planted. Mervesehir housing project was implemented. Decedent Erbakan Hodja laid its foundation. That day, I was there too. This project was implemented in a short time. It was completed in 8 stages. At the first stage, ones who received their houses by drawing of lots became homeowners for less than the price of 5 billion in total (it corresponds to 50.000 Turkish Liras nowadays. They paid it in 72 months). Workers, civil servants, retirees, farmers, widows/widowers, citizen from all strata received their deeds in six years by paying their monthly dues easily, moreover, without paying one single penny of interest. If this model was maintained, all workers and civil servants could have been homeowners easily.
An example of 10-year municipal work was exhibited that we can call “legendary.” Among those who took over the municipality administration and maintained the model of “National Opinion Municipalism” became also successful. Ones who determined the well-qualified staff of that time with a political fanaticism, ones who turned up their noses at the model of National Opinion Municipalism became embarrassed. People didn’t like them. Only those who acted intelligently and supported the well-qualified staff of the RP period, and those who wanted to maintain these activities became successful. That is to say that the National Opinion Municipalism became a brand and those who supported this brand became successful.
Now, there is a new election. Saadet (Felicity) Party (SP), the representative of the National Opinion Municipalism, explains its candidates in succession. I know some of them closely. Sparkling names… When I look to these names and to the tradition of National Opinion Municipal work, I want to say, “Friend, don’t you want peace, welfare, cleanliness, being hold in esteem, sleeping without any worry? Here is your occasion. Elect the candidates of Saadet Party! Or rather, suit yourself. You should support them. They aren’t going to beg for it.
I wish success to all estimable candidates of the Saadet (Felicity) Party that I believe who will fulfill their duties justly and properly in the person of Mustafa Kurdaş, and to all candidates who think about the people and who will work with sincerity.