PBNU Deputy Secretary General: Gus Yahya Prioritizes Empowerment Of NU Branches

Deputy Secretary General of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) Muhammad Aqil Irham/PHOTO VIA ANTARA

JAKARTA - Deputy Secretary General of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) Muhammad Aqil Irham said one of the priorities of Gus Yahya's leadership program was the empowerment of all NU branches in the regions.

"Gus Yahya prioritizes programs to empower (NU) branches throughout Indonesia," Aqil said in a written statement quoted by Antara, Sunday, December 19.

Gus Yahya or KH Yahya Cholil Staquf is a candidate for the General Chair of PBNU who will compete with the incumbent candidate KH Said Aqil Siroj in the 34th NU Congress in Lampung Province, December 22-24 2021.

Aqil said that one of Gus Yahya's program priorities was reflected in the vision of PBNU's Katib Aam who was determined to optimize more programs at the branch level than at the central level of NU management.

"Gus Yahya's vision is that there are more programs at the branch level according to the basis and potential of each region than in Jakarta or at PBNU," said Aqil.

The breadth of the network, both nationally and internationally, that Gus Yahya has, continued Aqil, is a strategic capital that can be optimized in consolidating the Nahdlatul Ulama (PCNU) Branch Management in the community through concrete work programs.

To make the program effective, said Aqil, the elected general chairman needs to make operational policies that are managed by each head of the related field with an executive director who can carry out regular monitoring.

"Thus, communication and vertical consolidation between PBNU, PWNU, and PCNU can occur regularly and continuously. So far, it has only been limited to conferences and ceremonial events," he said.

The priority of Gus Yahya's program, continued Aqil, is a clear proof of Gus Yahya's commitment, armed with his experience so far, to continue to serve and raise NU so that it becomes better from time to time and strengthens the dignity of the organization which is almost a century old.

Meanwhile, the Chair of the South Lampung PCNU KH Nur Mahfudz stated that Gus Yahya's idea was very implementable.

By implementing Gus Yahya's ideas, continued Mahfudz, PBNU will have "outlets" in each district to the village level that display the products of NU residents.

"The one who takes care of the congregation and jam'iyah below is PCNU, so this is a brilliant idea from Gus Yahya towards the second NU revival," he said.