Gus Ipul: Not In The History Of MLB Nahdlatul Ulama

Secretary General (Sekjen) of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board Saifullah Yusuf atai Gus Ipul. (doc PBNU)

JAKARTA - Secretary General of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board Saifullah Yusuf alias Gus Ipul emphasized that no history of the Extraordinary Congress (MLB) occurred on the journey of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

He believes that the discourse of MLB NU, which has recently emerged, will disappear over time as has happened before.

"Nothing in the history of NU is MLB. There has been initiated. But yes, in the end, it just disappeared," said Gus Ipul, who is also the Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos) after accompanying groups with disabilities to meet President Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Monday, September 30, which was confiscated by Antara.

He said NU was guarded by many kiai and ulama who basically did not like the struggle for office. Therefore, he believes that MLB NU will not happen.

"So it never works, it will never work for those who want MLB. So just like that. Let's see one by one the data of all kinds, see who it will be. It happened before but it ended up just disappeared," he explained.

When asked about whether or not there was interference from the National Awakening Party (PKB) with the discourse of MLB NU, Gus Ipul assessed that the public could draw their own conclusions.

If you look at the figures, people can see it, you can draw conclusions. This discourse appeared long before the presidential election. If it is opened, if you look for digital traces, it has come all the way. Yes, we'll just have to wait, but if I'm as sure MLB will never be in the Nahdlatul Ulama environment," he explained.

Previously, NU figure from East Java, Abdussalam Shohib alias Gus Salam said that grassroots were starting to get restless seeing PBNU which was considered far from their main task, so that PBNU MLB could happen at any time.

Furthermore, the Presidium for the Rescue of Organizations and the Extraordinary Nahdlatul Ulama Congress was formed which later stated that it had received complaints, criticisms, and suggestions from 28 provinces, 326 districts/cities, and 11 NU Special Branch Management (PCI), which provided support for the MLB to be held immediately.

Presidium through the National Presidium Consolidation of MLB NU which was held in Cirebon, West Java, on September 8-9, 2024, decided to ask the government to freeze the decree on the management of the NU Executive Board.

Meanwhile, on the other hand, the Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board Abdullah Latopada emphasized that no branch and regional level administrators were involved in the discourse on the implementation of the NU MLB.

Latopada said that MLB NU was an issue that was rolled out by a handful of people who did not have legitimacy in the management of PBNU. He also emphasized that the management structure of PBNU was solid and solid to the bottom.