Former commissioner of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Yusuf Badmus, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to allocate more slots to youths in the National Conference.

He said most of the delegates are old men who may not live to witness the end of the century and the implementation of the outcome of the conference, adding that youths “to whom the future belongs should be able to have substantial number on the delegates’ list”.

Speaking with Daily Trust, the professor of Islamic Studies, University of Ilorin and Chief Imam, Al- Hilal Central Mosque, also called on the president to address the imbalance on religious divide among delegates.

 He said if the “religious imbalance” is not addressed, the outcome of the conference “may be questioned by the Nigerian Muslim community”.

He also charged the delegates to preserve the oneness of the nation at the conference.  “Whatever differences that are there should be resolved amicably and nobody should threaten to divide Nigeria, because it will not pay anyone if that happens. The strength and weaknesses of each region, each entity; are part of what the Almighty God used to make this country great”.

He added, “We are like a broom, the moment you scatter us, it would be easy for the enemy to break us. But no matter the differences, no matter the bitterness we feel towards each other, a table has been provided, let us sit round it with the spirit of give and take. If we are able to do this, then history will not forget those who put the conference together”.