Although there were four presidential aspirants nationwide the battle would have narrowed down to only the two of them, which are Prof. Malima and Benjamin Mkapa. Retired President Julius Nyerere had seen the danger of such a confrontation and asked Prof. Malima not to resign from CCM. Nyerere knew for Prof. Malima to resign on a Muslim agenda that would make him a hero to his people and Muslims would rally behind him.
Alizungumza vilevile kuhusu uadui wa serikali kwa Waislam na Uislam. Waikela alimaliza hotuba yake kwa kutoa changamoto kwa wajumbe wamuite Nyerere kwenye ufunguzi wa mkutano ili aje awaeleze wajumbe msimamo wake kuhusu kadhia hii ya chinichini baina ya serikali na Waislam. Baada ya kushindwa kwa hoja ya kuivunja EAMWS wajumbe wa mkutano ikaonekana kuwa ingekuwa vyema Nyerere aitwe kufunga mkutano ule na asomewe makubaliano yaliyofikiwa.