Jakarta. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has called on three governor candidates competing in Jakarta 2017 gubernatorial election to campaign with the tenets of unity in mind.

Speaking during the 7^th commemoration on the death of former president Abdurrahman Wahid, or Gus Dur, Jokowi called on the three candidates — Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono and Sylviana Murni; Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama and Djarot Saiful Hidayat, as well as Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno — to stand during his speech in Ciganjur, South Jakarta, on Friday (23/12).

“Be in harmony. We are ... of one nation,” Jokowi said.

The president reflected on Gus Dur's legacy of strengthening unity among Indonesians.

“Gus Dur taught us about brotherhood, I think he had always seen Indonesia in its future state. When I took difficult decisions, I have always been reminded of his words, ‘why so troublesome?’”

“Gus Dur’s daughter Yenni explained that the inspiration of the [Arabic phrase] 'yasirru wall quyasirru', which means to ease and not making things more difficult. We should not practice the other way around, making easy things more difficult.”