PBNU Chairman Bans Anyone From Politics Using NU Identity

Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board Yahya Cholil Staquf (ANTARA/Sean Filo Muhamad)

Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board Yahya Cholil Staquf emphasized that anyone who participates in politics should not use NU's name while in politics.

"Whoever it is, even though NUnun people are not allowed to use NU's identity as political capital," said Gus Yahya, Yahya Charles Staquf's nickname, quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, May 25.

Gus Yahya emphasized that any NU member who competes in the election must have his own credibility, achievements, and bargaining power, and not just relying on the name NU alone.

Gus Yahya said that his party will always seek moral politics and will not rely on identity politics which only relies on raising support based on certain identities.

"This identity politics is politics that prioritizes the identity of primary groups, this can be dangerous for the integrity of society," he said.

He said identity politics could be dangerous for the community because it would encourage division in society.

Gus Yahya said he did not want what was called Islamic politics or even politics that used NU identities.

"So we don't want it if later there is a campaign competitor who says 'choose NU people,' for example, we don't want that," he said.

He hopes that if there are indeed a handful of parties who want to cooperate with NU in the political arena, they must prioritize attractive visions and offers.