It's time for NU to be in a single command: Habib Luthfi

Pekalongan, NU Online
The charismatic ulema from Pekalongan, Central Java, Habib Muhammad Luthfi bin Ali bin Yahya called on the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) to return to a single command as ever practiced in the era of Hadratus Sheikh KH Hasyim Asy'ari. NU should firmly and gently be controlled by its advisory boards (syuriyah) while the executive ones (tanfidziyah) should be able to play their roles in dealing with its programs.

Habib Luthfi who is also chairman of what called as Jam'iyyah Ahlit Thariqah Al Mu'tabaroh An Nahdliyyah will propose a package of possibilities in upcoming congress to choose a chairman (rais) of syuriyah only. While the post of chairman of tanfidziyah will fully be determined by the elected chairman of syuriyah.<>

In his speaking with NU Online's Abdul Muiz in his residency in Pekalongan over the weekend, Habib Luthfi called for the importance of the country's biggest Muslim organization to have an authoritative leadership style capable of taking brilliant measures.

He also said that rais syuriyah or rais aam would have authority in giving warnings to general chairman of tanfidziyah and even had the right to replace his post.

The single command style in leadership, Habib Luthfi added, had so far been practiced in his organization, Jam’iyyah Ahlit Thariqah Al Mu’tabarah An Nahdliyyah. In its 10th congress held in Pekalongan three years ago, the congress only elected a rais aam, while the position of mudir aam (chairman of executive board) was determined by the elected rais aam. This process was aimed at avoiding leadership dualism in organization, Habib Luthfi said.

He was of view this leadership style was importantly to anticipate any possible 'confrontation' between syuriyah and tanfidziyah because each has its own mandates. In this respect, he said, chairman of tanfidziyah should play his role as executor of policies formulated by syuriyah. But in practice the tanfidziyah has both planned and implemented NU programs as a whole.

Habib Luthfi also called on the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) to set up special team to expectedly analyze and then take comprehensive measures in dealing with the prospective proposal. In turn, he said, NU as protector of the creed and teaching of Ahlussunnah wal Jamaah would all of the time be on the right track and no longer be used to pursue any pesonal interest. (nam)