Gus Salam Receives Full Support from PBNU Captain

KH Abdussalam Shohib, or Gus Salam, visited the Semarang and Pati branches of Nahdlatul Ulama in Central Java on Friday, 8 May 2026. The visit was to pay respects to the Chairman of the Sharia Council of the Central Java NU Provincial Board, KH Ubaidillah Shodaqoh. “I used to study the kitab at the PP MUS Sarang. Alhamdulillah, this morning I was able to pay a visit to KH M. Said Abdurrochim. I seek blessings, advice, and prayers for my efforts to serve NU at the upcoming 35th congress,” said Gus Salam in a written statement on Friday, 8 May 2026. “And in the meeting with the Semarang and Pati regency-level NU branches, I received many inputs, advice, and hopes from the NU branch officials,” he added. He further noted that the Blora NU branch in Central Java positively appreciated the large number of NU cadres running as candidates for the General Chairman of PBNU. Meanwhile, KH Achmad Rosikh Roghibi, or Gus Rosikh, conveyed that the kiai supervisors of the pesantren in Sarang have agreed to support, bless, and pray for Gus Salam to lead PBNU at the upcoming 35th congress. “Gus Salam is considered by the Sarang kiai as the most appropriate figure who has concern for the future of the organisation, particularly in safeguarding Islamic values while responding to the challenges of the times,” said Gus Rosikh. Gus Rosikh explained that NU in its second century requires leadership that is not only personally strong but also clear in its vision and direction of movement. According to him, in reading the dynamics ahead of the 35th NU congress, many parties only focus on who the figure will be to lead, not on what ideas are brought and why those ideas are important. “NU in this second century is not enough with just a skilled driver and a navigator who understands the global map, but it also needs a new engine with a driver who truly understands the direction and goals of the organisation,” he stated. Furthermore, Gus Rosikh emphasised the importance of PBNU leadership that comes from the descendants of NU’s founders and kiai who have real closeness to pesantren life, high concern for the advancement of pesantren, and the educational institutions within them. For Gus Rosikh, this is crucial to maintain the continuity of NU’s values, traditions, and spirit of struggle so that they are not uprooted from their historical roots.