Palu       - KH Solahuddin Wahid (Gus Sholah) has expressed his readiness to lead Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia`s largest Islamic organization, for the next five years. "God willing, I am ready to lead NU in the years ahead," he said here Saturday at a national dialogue on nationalism in connection with NU`s 32nd conference next month. The dialogue was attended by NU regional and chapter leaders from the country`s eastern regions. The three-day meeting will formulate important main ideas to be brought up to the conference to be held in Makassar on March 22-27. Gus Sholah who is the younger brother of the late former president Abdurrahman Wadid and also grandson of NU`s founder said he had made the decision to run for NU leadership after receiving support from a number of influential clerics in East Java.

I told the clerics that I am already old but they said that age is not a problem for leading NU," he said drawing an applause from participants of the dialouge. Gus Sholah said would-be NU leader must have a good organizational culture and true will.He said NU is only strong in several regions and therefore a change in paradigm is needed. NU is a social organization but it has a paradigm as if it is a political organization," he said. In the future, he said, NU must focus on education and grassroots` economy. He said most of the poor people in Indonesia are NU members. Socio-politically they are included in the economically weak group working as migrant workers, farmers and street vendors. Politics remains important, namely politics that brings goodness not party politics, he said.

He said NU in the future must become a civil society power and efforts to achieve it should be done through improving the welfare of its members.  If Gus Dur fought for democracy we now are fighting for economy. If Gus Dur fought against the government we are now cooperating with the government," he said. He said the organizational improvement to be done on NU would include eradicating pragmatism and reviving NU`s fighting spirit.  At the opening of the meeting current NU chief Hasyim Muzadi emphasized the importance of understanding NU`s substance. He said NU is not only an organization but also a spirit. "NU clerics must not be seen as figures but people must also see their vision, character and fight. This is greater than NU organization," he said. Gus Sholah if chosen later will replace Hasyim who has expired his term of office.     rri.co.id/dodo