Apdesi Named As Father Of Village Development, Jokowi: It's Not Me Who Deserves

Apdesi national gathering at Istora Senayan/Youtube Presidential Secretariat

JAKARTA - The Association of Indonesian Village Governments (Apdesi) has named President Joko Widodo as the Father of Indonesian Village Development. This was stated in the Apdesi national gathering event at Istora Senayan.

Responding to the coronation, Jokowi emphasized that the more worthy figure as the Father of Village Development was not himself, but village heads throughout Indonesia.

"It was conveyed about Mr. Village Development, all of you who are worthy ladies and gentlemen, not me. Because all of you who built the village, all of you who worked hard to build the village, Mr. and Mrs. All of them," said Jokowi in remarks broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat Youtube, Tuesday, 29 March.

The village heads who were present greeted Jokowi's statement with applause. Jokowi also reiterated that he is only the head of state who compiles government regulations.

"I am part of the policy above. So the fathers of development are all ladies and gentlemen," said Jokowi.

The coronation was pronounced by the Chairperson of Apdesi Surtawijaya who gave a speech before Jokowi. Surtawijaya invited the village heads who were present to stand up and raise their hands to call for Jokowi's coronation as the Father of Village Development.

"If you agree, you don't have to be hypocritical in front of me. Everyone stand up if you agree. Get up and raise your hands. Thank you, Mr. President, that we at Apdesi declare Mr. President Jokowi as the Father of Village Development. Allahuakbar! Alhamdulillah!" Surtawijaya exclaimed.

Surtawijaya explained the reason why his party named Jokowi as the father of village development. Surtawijaya said that Jokowi was the president who implemented Law No. 6 of 2014 concerning Villages. So, according to Surtawijaya, development in the village can be realized evenly.

"We are aware of Law Number 6 of 2014, I was included in it at that time, when it was passed, not necessarily others who became leaders would want to realize it, want to implement the Law. But when the president (Jokowi) was elected, Law Number 6 The year 2014 was carried out well, so that we evenly distributed development in the village," he explained.