Umbrella body of Nigerian Muslims, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), has convened a National Conference at its headquarters in Kaduna with the aim of discussing issues related to the multifarious challenges affecting the unity of the Muslim Ummah in the country.

Chaired by the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of JNI, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the conference was declared open by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Barrister Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

A communiqué released of the June 14 conference jointly signed by Chairman, LOC, Prof. S. W. Junaidu, and Secretary General, JNI, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, said the following resolutions were reached by participants:

1. Diversity and heterogeneity should be seen as sources of strength by all Muslims rather than basis for mistrust and hostility. Hence, the appreciation to Allah, the Most High, for His guidance in closing the gaps.

2. For peace to reign, and for Muslims to live in mutual trust, respect and dignity, leadership of all Muslim groups should imbibe the culture of healthy intellectual dialogue and exchange of goodwill.

3. Muslim scholars should desist from all abusive statements and acts which are capable of causing disunity and disrespect among the Ummah.

4. Contemporary Nigerian Muslims have a lot of practical lessons to learn from the legacies of the Sokoto Caliphate triumvirate, i.e. Sheikh Usman bn Fodio, Sheikh Abdullahi bn Fodio and Sultan Muhammad Bello.

5. In discussing issues of religion, scholars and their followers should always stick to the Islamic ethics of disagreement as expounded by the Quran and Sunnah and explained by pious Islamic scholars.

6. In the forthcoming Ramadan, Muslim scholars are urged to consider the spirit of love, cohesion and compassion which Ramadan stands to teach, and use their Tafsir programmes to instill in their listeners the fear of Allah and the spirit of love, hard work and compassion towards others. All those conducting Tafsir should strictly adhere to the Tafsir Guideline developed by the JNI and agreed upon by all members.

7. Muslims and Nigerians in general, should follow the path of truth and justice for peace to be achieved in Nigeria.

8. The Federal Government of Nigeria is urged to intensify efforts in tackling general insecurity in the country.

9. Considering the universal acceptability of dialogue in resolving crises, insurgency and all other forms of insecurity, the Federal Government of Nigeria should also consider the dialogue option.

10. Leaders at all levels of governance should abide by the rules of accountability and justice as the surest means to peace, stability and development.

11. As we approach the month of Ramadan, traders of foodstuff and essential commodity sellers are implored not to take undue advantage of the Ramadan period, by increasing prices.

Notable Muslim scholars who presented papers at the conference included Sheikh (Dr.) Haroun O. Ajah (the Guest Speaker), Sheikh Sani Yahya Jingir, Sheikh Qaribullahi Nasiru Kabara, and Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, among others.

The conference was graced by several dignitaries, among themKebbi State Governor, Alhaji Saidu Usman Nasamu Dakingari, and HRH, Shehu of Borno, Alhaji (Dr.) Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi.

•Photo shows Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of JNI, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.

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