Bro Rivai Dikedendaki By Grass Roots In South Sulawesi Gubernatorial Election

Rear Admiral TNI Dr. Abdul Rivai. (Photo: Special)

JAKARTA - The political battle in the Pilkada of the Governor of South Sulawesi (South Sulawesi) has begun to emerge. The province, which is very strategic in the Eastern part of Indonesia, has become the attention of the national political elite. This is because South Sulawesi is the gateway to the economy and will later become a buffer zone for the State Capital (IKN) 'Nusantara', so that it becomes a magnet for political parties that win the 2024 presidential election.

So far, three political parties; PDI Perjuangan (6 seats), PPP (8 seats), and PKB (8 seats) decided to carry the Mayor of Makassar, Ramdhan Pomanto, while Andi Sudirman Sulaiman and Fatmawati Rusdi were promoted by the Democratic Party (7 seats) and Nasdem (17 seats), PAN (4 seats) and the remaining 4 political parties have yet to decide. The parties in question are the Golkar Party (14 seats), PKS (7 seats), Gerindra Party (13 seats), and Hanura Party (1 seat).

Now a public question arises who can win the remaining political parties in question? The name that is now being discussed is Rear Admiral TNI Dr. Abdul Rivai Ras, who is familiarly called Bro Rivai, a two-star active Indonesian Navy High Officer who is also the son of a South Sulawesi Bugis from Bone who is geopolitically ideal.

Rivai is also known as a military academic and one of the founders of the Indonesian Defense University who was once a byword and attention to the people of South Sulawesi because of his high popularity and electability when he was the Governor's Balloon in the 2018 South Sulawesi Pilkada.

Although there are a number of candidates for Governor of South Sulawesi such as former Mayor of Makassar, Ilham Arief Sirajuddin, Chairman of the South Sulawesi Gerindra DPD, and Andi Iwan Darmawan Aras, but among them it is not yet fully final for parties that support it temporarily because it is still limited to a Letter of Assignment or Recommendation which at any time can still change.

Of these several candidates, the name Admiral TNI Abdul Rivai Ras himself has become the latest conversation due to the emergence of Bro Rivai's name, known as an alternative candidate and the third axis in the South Sulawesi gubernatorial election competition.

The name Bro Rivai five years ago was mentioned as going to fight, even though he finally decided to cancel running in the South Sulawesi gubernatorial election. During the proposal for the candidate for Acting Governor of South Sulawesi some time ago in the DPRD, his name was also in the top three proposed legislators to the Minister of Home Affairs.

Especially at this time, there are still political parties that have not yet made a decision. At least the Gerindra coalition parties (13 seats), Golkar (14 seats), and PKS (7 seats) could potentially carry Bro Rivai because of their capacity as high-ranking active military officers, have experience in the bureaucracy in the government, and have no doubt about nationalism. He is also known as a student figure who has studied at Islamic boarding schools and has close ties to South Sulawesi religious leaders.

If the Gerindra coalition, Golkar and PKS make a choice and carry a pair of candidates and three axes will be created and will become the Black Horse in the Pilkada of the Governor of South Sulawesi. This dynamic will have a high electoral effect on Bro Rivai if in determining the candidate for governor from Gerindra cadres or from Golkar as an important element in the South Sulawesi Pilkada package.

Bro Rivai Ras is currently a special staff of the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy. Rivai Ras, is an alumnus of the Indonesian University Political Science Doctorate (UI) in 2010, and a graduate of Career Soldiers (PA PK)ABRI Force I/1993. The last position of the two-star executive is the Expert Staff of the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs for Regional Sovereignty and Maritime Affairs.

He is also a lecturer at the study program for National Resilience Studies at the Stratejik and GlobalUI Studies until now, lecturers and Chairs of the Maritime Security Study Program of the Indonesian Republic of Indonesia's National Defense University (UNHAN RI) for the 2013-2016 Period, and the Chairperson of the Central Executive Board of the Indonesian Engineers' Association for Defense and Strategic Industries for the Bhakti Period 2021-2024.

In addition, he is one of the pioneers and founders of UNHAN RI as well as recipient of the Jasa Medalli Kepeoporan award in the field of defense education provided by the President of the Republic of Indonesia in the era of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

A South Sulawesi community leader who is also a former Rector of the Unhas, Prof. Dr. Idrus Paturusi admitted that Bro Rivai was one of the right figures to lead South Sulawesi. With a naval military background, of course, he is very familiar with the dominant maritime area in South Sulawesi.

The more choices are certainly very good for the community, in order to choose a leader in the upcoming South Sulawesi gubernatorial election. The important thing is not to have empty boxes," Idrus hoped, quoted from his written statement, Monday, August 5.

Support also came from Mohammad Anas RA as Executive Director of FIXPOLL Indonesia. According to him, Rivai Ras, who is familiarly called Bro Rivai, is acceptable to all groups in this area. So that it is easy to solve the problems that will arise in the future.

The FIXPOLL director said Bro Rivai had weights whose qualifications met the cultural requirements of South Sulawesi's leadership. The qualification is firm and brave leadership that is formed from his work environment in military institutions.

"He is a local son who understands the local political climate, so he can take strategic actions and policies to create a safe and peaceful atmosphere and conduct South Sulawesi in the future," said Aan, his nickname.

Aan added that the former Expert Staff of the TNI Commander was a three-in-one human figure, namely academics, the military, and activists.

Kita berharap ada pembangunan yang berkelanjutan. Nah, dibutuhkan sosok Bro Rivai memimpin Sulsel ke depan. Saya rasa dia mampu menyelesaikan program pembangunan yang belum tuntas. Sosoknya diterima semua kelompok. Itu ada pada diri Bro Rivai, pungkasnya.