The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has warned that Nigeria may come out of the ongoing National Conference worse than it was before the conference, unless delegates are all transparently honest with themselves.

MURIC's director, Professor Ishaq Akintola in a statement on Monday urged delegates not to keep malice, open up their hearts and declare charity for all.

It advised the delegates of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and those of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) to remember that there were issues other than religion begging for attention in the national conference. "These are issues on which both Christians and Muslims agree. We all want good security, regular power supply, good roads, efficient public health delivery system, effective public transport system, qualitative education, end to corruption. Let us address these issues and stop whipping up primordial sentiments," it added.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had made certain demands in the ongoing national conference which includes the establishment of ecclesiastical courts throughout Nigeria.

While noting that this was the first time CAN had openly made such demands, MURIC welcomed these demands as they indicated a positive response to requests from the secretariat of the national conference and the call made by President Jonathan for all aggrieved and neutral groups to present their cases and requests.

According to MURIC, the latest submissions by CAN will no doubt move the dialogue machinery forward.

"MURIC have always asked Christians in the country to tell Nigerians what they wanted instead of always opposing what the Muslims want. It is our belief that if all stakeholders in the Nigerian project openly make their demands, the task of harmonizing our interests will become easier.

"We believe that demands which fall within the fundamental human rights of each group should be granted while no group should stand in the way of another so long as a group’s demand does not encroach on others’ rights. All groups should respect the ‘Live and Let Live’ golden rule.

"It is in this respect that we are asking the national conference to approve CAN’s requests. We are not unaware the existing courts in the country which use common law are Christian courts," it said.  However, MURIC said unlike the hostile stand of CAN when Muslims demanded Shariah law, Islamic banking, etc, Muslims were prepared to tolerate Christian courts so long as the latter will serve Christians only and no Muslim will be brought before them.

It added that this was also the argument of Muslims when they made demands but Christians defied logic when they opposed it and appealed to them to see their Muslim compatriots as partners in progress.

It also advised CAN to change its mindset regarding the national conference as it was obvious that its delegates came to the conference singing war songs, saying "CAN has a perception complex whereas negotiations and dialogues require open-mindedness to succeed."