Gus Yahya Refuses To Resign, Denies Impeachment And Allegations Of Fund Flow

PBNU General Chair Yahya Cholil Staquf (Gus Yahya) (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board Yahya Cholil Staquf or Gus Yahya emphasized that he had no intention of resigning from his position in the midst of the emergence of internal dynamics of the organization.

"The mandate that I received from the 34th Congress is valid for five years and will be carried out in full," he said after a coordination meeting with a number of NU Regional Leaders (PWNU) in Surabaya, Sunday, November 23.

Gus Yahya also said that until now he had not received an official letter in any form related to the circulation of internal issues. Documents that were touted as the minutes of Syuriyah's daily meeting on Thursday, November 20, which stated that the request to resign from the position of general chairman was the trigger for the issue of impeachment.

He emphasized that the minutes must be checked for validity, including through proof of digital signatures commonly used in the organization.

He emphasized that PBNU Syuriyah does not have the authority to dismiss the General Chair or other structural officials in the organization. However, he is committed to finding the best solution for the benefit of NU and the nation.

"I have established communication with Syuriyah ranks. I hope that internal reconciliation can be realized immediately with the senior kiai and the relevant structure ranks," he said.

Meanwhile, a gathering of scholars held at the PBNU Jakarta Building on the evening of November 23 resulted in an agreement that there would be no impeachment or resignation of Gus Yahya.

Katib Aam PBNU, Ahmad Said Asrori, stated that the kiai agreed that the PBNU management would continue for one period, and all changes could only be made through the congress mechanism as regulated in the organization's AD/ART.

In the midst of this issue, Gus Yahya also denied the rumors circulating in the public, including allegations of hundreds of billions of funds being directed at him.

"I will not take any steps without clarity of the data and evidence, and refuse to act based on allegations or baseless issues," he stressed.