Gus Yahya Hits Back at Cak Imin's Call for New PBNU Leadership: 'He Doesn't Understand NU'
The Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU), KH Yahya Cholil Staquf, known as Gus Yahya, has responded to a statement by National Awakening Party (PKB) Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar, or Cak Imin, who called for a change of leadership within PBNU. Gus Yahya took a swipe at Cak Imin, suggesting he does not understand the organisation’s internal dynamics because he has never been part of NU’s management structure. “Go ahead if Mr Muhaimin makes such a statement. But I think it is because he perhaps does not really understand NU, as he has never been an NU administrator at any level in his entire life. He has never even been a branch administrator,” Gus Yahya said at the PBNU office on Tuesday (14/7).
Gus Yahya refuted Cak Imin’s accusation that PBNU has been stagnant over the past five years. He claimed that the management structure down to the grassroots level has actually experienced a significant leap forward during his leadership period. “He does not know whether there have been changes or not. Meanwhile, if you check with the NU ranks down to the bottom, I think no one can deny the fundamental progress that has been achieved during this management period,” he added.
Gus Yahya considered it natural that the strategic position of PBNU is coveted by many figures. In a jesting tone, he remarked that the top job at PBNU indeed holds a strong appeal. “The internal dynamics are just normal. If people want to become the General Chairman of PBNU, well, many people want that. The title of General Chairman is dashing, like me here. So it is normal if many people want it,” he said.
To date, Gus Yahya admitted he has not heard of any alternative figures officially rallying support from regional or branch administrators. Nevertheless, he challenged Cak Imin if he is indeed interested in contesting for the PBNU Chairmanship, provided he is willing to relinquish his position in the political party. “We will just wait, there is still time until the end of August. But once again, if someone wants to run, for example, Mr Muhaimin Iskandar wants to resign as PKB Chairman to run for PBNU Chairman, that is also natural. In the past, I also openly declared my candidacy,” Gus Yahya challenged.
On that occasion, Gus Yahya also revealed that he will run again as a candidate for PBNU General Chairman. He stressed that his mission is to complete the strategic work programmes he has pioneered since the beginning of his term. “I am indeed running again. Firstly, because I want to complete the agendas that I have built from the start. And I now understand better how to perfect the achievements that have been successfully obtained so that the benefits can truly be felt concretely by the members of Nahdlatul Ulama,” he said.
Previously, PKB Chairman Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar had insisted that PBNU needs a new leader. Cak Imin expressed the view that PBNU needs a fresher general chairman. “Yes, a new leader. Currently, a fresh new leader is needed,” Cak Imin said when met in Kemang, Jakarta, on Sunday (12/7). Cak Imin then took a jab at PBNU Chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf, claiming he has not brought any changes to PBNU during his tenure. “Because the old one has been there for five years with no changes,” Cak Imin said curtly.