18.02.2026 15:04
Speaking at the 'Governors Meeting' program held at the Presidential Complex, President Erdoğan said regarding Ali Yerlikaya, whom he dismissed last week, "As you know, there was a change of duty in our Ministry last week. I would like to thank Ali Yerlikaya once again for his services in front of you, who served as the Minister of Interior for two and a half years."
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made striking statements at the "Governors Meeting" program held at the Presidential Complex.
ALI YERLIKAYA'S WORDS
Expressing his heartfelt congratulations to the Ministry of Interior for successfully organizing the meeting this year, Erdoğan said, "As you know, there was a change of duty in our Ministry last week. I would like to thank Ali Yerlikaya, who served as the Minister of Interior for two and a half years, for his services once again in your presence. I also wish success to Mustafa Çiftçi, who has taken over the duties of the Ministry of Interior, and I would like to express my gratitude to him on behalf of my nation for the good he will do."
Highlights from Erdoğan's statements;
"Welcome to the home of the nation, you have brought joy. I send my greetings and love to all 86 million citizens in our 81 provinces through you. I hope our governors' meeting will be a blessing for our country, our nation, and our cities. I sincerely congratulate our Ministry of Interior for successfully organizing the meeting this year.
I congratulate each of our administrative officials, whose awards we will present shortly in different categories. As you know, there was a change of duty in our Ministry last week. I would like to thank Ali Yerlikaya, who served as the Minister of Interior for two and a half years, for his services once again in your presence. I also wish success to Mustafa Çiftçi, who has taken over the duties of the Ministry of Interior, and I would like to express my gratitude to him on behalf of my nation for the good he will do.
I wish success to our deputy governors, district governors, and every member of our administrative organization. I remember with mercy our governors and district governors who have passed away along with our martyr administrative officials. May their souls be blessed, and may their places be in heaven, inshallah.
"MAY RAMADAN BRING GOODNESS TO OUR NATION"
Again, I wish that the Ramadan-ı Sharif, which we will be honored with tonight, brings goodness to our nation, the Islamic world, and all of humanity. I pray that these blessed days, when the doors of mercy are opened, strengthen our unity and solidarity. O Lord, may the ummah not be crushed and fall due to this centuries-old division, thanks to this magnificent Ramadan. We feel the prayer of the late Mehmet Akif Ersoy deeply in our hearts today. We also say amen to the prayers of our National Anthem poet.
I send our messages of solidarity to our Gazan brothers who welcome Ramadan-ı Sharif in makeshift tents, yet do not compromise their dignity and resilience, on behalf of myself and my country. I also especially request each member of our nation not to forget the oppressed Palestinians in their prayers. As we support each other, as we heal each other's wounds, as we unite and increase our solidarity and love, I want to express once again that the beautiful days when peace, tranquility, and stability will prevail in our region and our heartland are very close, inshallah. As long as we stand firm against oppression and the oppressor. As long as we hold tightly to our brotherhood and our brothers, and protect our faith and dreams. Only then, with the permission of Allah, will there be no trap we cannot break, no plan we cannot tear apart, and no game or scenario that we cannot thwart.
"AT THE FOUNDATION OF OUR STATE TRADITION."
Dear friends, esteemed governors, the nation is made of history. The existence of our ancestors constitutes a whole from the past, becoming our spirit, our intellect. The nation is the name of a great intellect, a great spirit. Yes, one of the characteristics of our great intellect and great spirit as a great nation is the meaning we attribute to the concept of state and the importance we attach to it. We are a nation that has never been without a state at any period of its history, has always preserved its state with the motto of eternal existence, and has passed it on to future generations. Our national and spiritual values, our human and cultural assets, our perception of the past and future are directly embedded in our state philosophy. That is why the state does not merely represent an administrative organization for us. It also encompasses meanings such as power, happiness, compassion, and mercy. At the foundation of our thousands of years of state tradition lies justice, at its center is humanity, and at its axis are virtue and morality. In this respect, the government is intertwined with wisdom.
"GOVERNORSHIP IS A PLACE TO FIND REMEDIES FOR TROUBLES"
Yusuf Kamil Pasha, who held important positions including the grand vizier in the Ottoman Empire, expressed this truth with the words, "The government is shared with wisdom." Therefore, you cannot ensure governance without establishing justice and goodness. If you disregard humanity and exclude wisdom, you cannot achieve peace and stability. Dear friends, our governors, who serve on behalf of myself and our state in our provinces, bear a vital authority and responsibility in this regard. The governor is the reflection of a complete and compassionate state in the field. He is the melting pot of wisdom and governance. He is the meeting point of the citizen and the state. Governorship is a place to heal, to find remedies for troubles; it is a position to be in harmony with our nation, to be in solidarity and companionship with the citizens. Our greatest expectation from our governors is to produce quick and effective solutions to problems, to win the hearts of our people, and to carry out their duties with maximum efficiency within the scope of their responsibilities. Leadership essentially requires these. A successful governor means a good leader. Good leadership requires taking on burdens, accepting responsibilities, taking risks, and avoiding the transfer of problems that can be solved locally to Ankara. It is impossible for a manager who lets things flow, who relies on what is handed down from their predecessor, to lead either the province they are in or the public institution they preside over.
"WE ARE SERVANTS OF THE NATION"
I especially expect each of you to always consider these sensitivities while performing your duties. You must use the resources entrusted to you by our state in a very meticulous manner for the benefit of our nation and our cities. You should see the projects you carry out, the investments you make, and the services you provide as a means to attain the pleasure of God. Look, I emphasize this at every opportunity, and today I underline it again; regardless of our title, including myself, we are all servants of our esteemed nation. Representing the state does not mean being arrogant. You already know very well that we have no tolerance for looking down on citizens, disrespecting our people, or discriminating among our people.
"WE WILL NOT FALL INTO THE TRAP OF POWER POISONING, WE WILL NOT ENGAGE IN CAREER ENGINEERING"
While serving, we will not fall into the trap of power poisoning, we will not engage in career engineering, and we will not seek any interest other than the safety of the state we are honored to serve and our esteemed nation.
I find it useful to express a matter that has recently been the subject of complaints. With the widespread use of social media and digital platforms, a significant portion of communication and information activities has shifted to these channels. Our public institutions and officials have naturally started to use these platforms more. However, we sometimes witness a lack of moderation in these channels due to reasons such as seeking likes, increasing engagement, and gaining attention. While people's privacy is being violated, scenes that are not befitting the seriousness of our state emerge, and communication efforts turn into either communication accidents or communication crises. I believe that both you and the public officials working under your authority will show the utmost sensitivity regarding this issue.