Nurettin Eyiler, known as the “elderly muhtar” in the Yeşilbahçe neighborhood of Muratpaşa district, started his term as a muhtar at the age of 39 and continued without interruption for 46 years. Riding his bicycle to every corner of the neighborhood, Eyiler identified issues and reported them to the relevant authorities for resolution. Throughout his tenure, he took care of every problem in the neighborhood, even going as far as having an Atatürk bust made for the muhtar’s office and planting flowers around the building.
Eyiler, who said he decided to run for muhtar once again in the March 31, 2024 Local Administration General Election because the residents of the neighborhood forced him to, did not find what he expected in the election. In a three-way race with Nurettin Eyiler and Ahmet Çiviler, Mehtap Gökçe emerged as the new muhtar, receiving 4,194 votes, while Nurettin Eyiler was left with 2,990 votes.
“After the election, Eyiler began to collect his personal belongings from the muhtar’s office. He said, “We thought we had the election guaranteed, but it wasn’t meant to be. Oh well, it’s for the best. I hope she works well. I want her to take good care of the Atatürk bust and flowers. I used to clean the bust myself, and she should not neglect its cleanliness. She should also take good care of my flowers. From now on, I will continue to ride my bicycle around the neighborhood.”
Eyiler also mentioned that the residents of the neighborhood would say, “We will call you again if there is a problem.” He said, “My wife didn’t want me to run again. She was happy when I lost. From now on, I will focus on my own affairs in the neighborhood and at home.” One resident of the neighborhood, Şahinler Kılınç, expressed his sadness at the news, saying, “I was upset. It’s been a tradition for many years. I live where Uncle Nurettin lives, and I was surprised when I heard the news.”
Eyiler’s dedication as a muhtar for 46 years has left a lasting impact on the Yeşilbahçe neighborhood, with residents expressing their gratitude for his hard work and commitment to addressing their concerns. Despite not winning re-election, Eyiler remains optimistic and hopeful that the new muhtar will continue to care for the neighborhood and the symbolic Atatürk bust and flowers he left behind. While Eyiler may no longer hold the title of muhtar, his legacy of service and community engagement will be remembered by the residents of Yeşilbahçe for years to come.
