NU Leader Hopes President Prabowo Will Open 2031 Congress

KH Yahya Cholil Staquf, widely known as Gus Yahya, the Chairman of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), has publicly expressed his hope that President Prabowo Subianto will once again officiate the opening of the NU Congress in five years. Gus Yahya conveyed this wish during his welcoming remarks at the 35th NU Congress in Jombang.

"Five years from now, we will have another congress, the 36th NU Congress in 2031. I don't know, perhaps it will be difficult to manipulate the numbers to be favorable. But, in my heart, I hope it will be opened by President Prabowo again," Gus Yahya stated, acknowledging the potential challenges in aligning political circumstances for such an event.

Gus Yahya also emphasized NU's commitment to fostering synergy with the government. He highlighted the organization's significant role, representing approximately 57 percent or around 120 million Indonesian Muslims, and its strategic responsibility. "This is a huge potential and a very big responsibility," he remarked.

He articulated that NU should position itself as a conduit for government policies, ensuring their benefits reach the wider community effectively. "After long contemplation, NU must cooperate with the government. NU plays the role of a delivery mechanism for government programs to the people," Gus Yahya explained. He urged NU officials to optimize the organization's function within society, making it a more effective channel for government initiatives.

Furthermore, Gus Yahya recalled the founding principles of NU, referencing the message of its founder, KH Hasyim Asy'ari, on the importance of mutual cooperation. "Hasyim Asy'ari, in the Muqaddimah Qanun Asasi, said that mutual help is the foundation for the functioning of societal order," he stated. Gus Yahya believes that a society built on this foundation prioritizes cooperation over the pursuit of power alone, fostering a spirit of togetherness among its members.