Vice President, Namadi Sambo on Sunday disclosed that the membership of the national conference would be reviewed.
The development follows complaint by an Islamic delegation led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar.
The delegation had in a visit to President Goodluck Jonathan, complained that the Muslims were under-represented at the 492-member conference.
“On the imbalance of the national conference between Muslims and Christians, I want to confirm that Mr. President has directed that positive action be taken on the matter,” Sambo said yesterday in Kaduna at the 50th anniversary lecture of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), a body led by the Sultan.
Sambo said the government was taking steps to address the persistent clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in parts of the country in response to the concern expressed by the Sultan on the activities of the insurgents which has been spreading fast in the north.
The Vice President, who expressed government’s readiness to ensure justice and fairness to all Nigerians irrespective of religion or ethnicity, added that the President had accepted to appoint a Special Adviser on Islamic Affairs.
Sambo said: “Mr President has also accepted my recommendation to appoint a special adviser on Islamic affairs. Government will see to the end of the barbaric acts of insurgency in the country. We are making efforts to ensure harmony between farmers and pastoralists, we have strategised on how to stop the constant crises between farmers and pastoralists.
“We are making efforts to address the issue of grazing range and grazing reserves.”
The Sultan reiterated his complaint that Muslims were being marginalised, particularly in their representation at the National Conference.
“We have discussed with the government on the national conference and how to make it a success. We don’t want another jamboree, we have been giving advice to our leaders; it is left for them to take the advice or jettison them.
“Every day we hear of people killed in different parts of the country. It is a nightmare that is spreading to parts of the country in the name of cattle rustling. We are worried about the Muslims, Christians and Fulani being killed because life is sacred.
“Why are we fighting each other in the name of ethnicity and religion? We should all go about our religion peacefully. Our non-Muslim brothers should join us to look at problems bedevilling the country and find solutions.”
Guest speaker, Prof. Shehu Galadanchi, said no Islamic organisation had been able to give Muslims in Nigeria adequate leadership and protection. He proposed the merger of the JNI and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Muslim Ummah of South Western Nigeria (MUSWEN), in order to form a single body that would be a rallying point for all Nigerian Muslims.
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