PDIP Dismisses Jokowi's Denial of Buffalo Head Ritual as 'Farce'

PDIP Central Executive Board Chairman Deddy Sitorus has deemed it illogical for Indonesia’s 7th President, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), to claim ignorance of a traditional procession involving stepping on a buffalo’s head during a political safari in Lampung. Deddy stated he received information that Jokowi was in fact the chairman of the committee for the traditional event.

‘Whether Jokowi wants to step on a buffalo’s head or a snake’s head, go ahead, it has nothing to do with us. What I heard is that Jokowi was the chairman of the committee for that activity,’ Deddy told reporters on Friday (3/7/2026).

Deddy accused the statement made by the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) of potentially being untrue and difficult to prove. He alluded to Jokowi’s character, suggesting the former president would do anything to achieve his goals.

‘So it is highly illogical and possibly a lie if he says he didn’t know about the drama of that stepping ritual. For us, whatever Jokowi wants to do to achieve his goals, we don’t care,’ Deddy said. ‘He indeed has to do everything in any way to maintain his dynasty. And that is indeed a characteristic and trait of Jokowi, he will do anything,’ he added.

The member of the House of Representatives Commission II claimed the story circulating among the public is that Jokowi himself created and viralised the traditional event. He suggested Jokowi did this to keep the name of Kaesang Pangarep’s father a topic of public discussion.

‘The story is, he made it, he was anxious about it, and he viralised it. For us, it’s just a silly farce so the public keeps talking about him,’ he continued.

For context, PSI Central Executive Board Chairman Bestari Barus previously stated that Jokowi was unaware of the buffalo head ritual during the political safari in Lampung. PSI claimed Jokowi attended the traditional agenda as a form of respect.

‘Well, actually, Mr Jokowi’s presence was by invitation to receive a local traditional award, with the title Baginda Pemuka Rakyat. It wasn’t Mr Jokowi who determined what it should be; he came to honour the invitation of the traditional council leaders,’ Bestari told reporters on Friday (3/7/2026).

According to PSI, Jokowi admitted he was shocked because he did not know about the procession. Jokowi reportedly had a premonition that the moment would become a talking point externally, which turned out to be true.

‘So then, when he went up on stage, he had already realised that. Last night he told us a story, we were in Solo. So, what is this actually? He also stated, ’Wow, I didn’t know there was that buffalo head.’ As soon as he went up, he saw the buffalo head,’ Bestari said. ‘And he was told to sit in front of the buffalo head, he muttered to himself, ’Wow, this is going to cause a stir’,’ he added.

Lampung Pepadun traditional leader Suttan Seghayo Dipuncak Nur, Mawardi Harirama, had previously spoken out regarding the procession of Jokowi stepping on the buffalo head while receiving a traditional title in Lampung. Mawardi asked the public not to link the traditional procession to political interests.

Mawardi explained that the procession of stepping on a buffalo head is part of the Begawi Cakak Pepadun or Munggah Bumi traditional rites, which have been passed down through generations. The ritual holds a philosophical meaning as a symbol of eliminating bad traits within humans.

‘Placing the toes on the buffalo’s head is to eliminate animalistic traits within oneself, such as arrogance, envy, greed, and other bad traits. So it has nothing to do with politics,’ Mawardi said, as reported by detikSumbagsel on Monday (29/6).