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| The Late Sule |
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, and governor of Sokoto state, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal have
described the death of Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule as a monumental loss to
the African continent.
Also in another development, Kano State government, Monday, declared, Tuesday, July 4, 2017, as public holiday in order to mourn the passing of the renowned diplomat.
Speaker Dogara, in his tribute, described the late Dan Masani as a colossus, patriot, father to all, and a
distinguished elder statesman who wrote his name in gold in the annals of
Nigeria's history.
"From struggle for independence, to his stewardship as a Federal MP, Federal Commissioner of public complaints, to his service as Nigeria's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Alhaji Maitama Sule's record of public service was excellent, exemplary and worthy of emulation," the speaker said in a statement.
"From struggle for independence, to his stewardship as a Federal MP, Federal Commissioner of public complaints, to his service as Nigeria's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Alhaji Maitama Sule's record of public service was excellent, exemplary and worthy of emulation," the speaker said in a statement.
Dogara said Maitama's death came at a time
when his elderly wisdom, experience, and deep sense of patriotism was
much needed in Nigeria, "given the fact that we are passing through a
challenging phase in our history as a nation."
He however, condoled with the immediate family members of the deceased, the people and government of Kano State.
He however, condoled with the immediate family members of the deceased, the people and government of Kano State.
On his part, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal described the death of Dan Masanin Kano as a great loss, saying the deceased impacted the nation positively in various spheres of human endeavour.
In a statement issued in Sokoto Monday by his spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal described the late orator and former diplomat, whoh died in the early hours of Monday in a hospital in Cairo, Egypt, at the age of 87, as a complete gentleman and good citizen who dedicated his life to the unity, progress and development of Nigeria.
“The people and government of Sokoto State received with shock, the news of the passage of Dan Masanin Kano, Alhaji Maitama Sule.
"Our country has lost a rare breed. A leading light from the old generation has been extinguished. He was a complete gentleman whose honesty, commitment and dedication to the unity of Nigeria will forever be cherished.
"Dan Masani's name will continue to be identified with everything positive about Nigeria and its people. Whenever the future generation reads about Dan Masani, they will encounter a man who was cherished and respected by the high and mighty from all parts of the country," the statement added.
While praying to almighty Allah to give his family the strength to bear the loss, Tambuwal extended his condolences to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano, the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II and the entire people of Kano State over the loss.
He equally prayed to almighty Allah to grant the deceased eternal rest.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) also reports that the former Nigeria’s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, left behind a wife and four children, to mourn him.
Sule was born in Kano in 1929 and started his career as a teacher. He was later elected into the Federal House of Representatives in 1954.
In 1958, he was Chief Information Officer to the Kano Native Authority, and in 1959, he was appointed Federal Minister of Mines and Power.
He was a member of Nigeria’s delegation to the Addis Ababa Conference of Independent African States in 1960.
The deceased statesman became Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in 1976 during the tenure of Kurt Waldheim as Secretary-General of the world body.
He was also Federal Commissioner of Public Complaints in 1979 and vied for the ticket of the defunct National Party of Nigeria for the 1979 presidential election, but lost to Alhaji Shehu Shagari.
Sule was also assigned as representative of Nigeria’s President to the Lancaster House Talks on Zimbabwe in London and was also counsel to African Leaders on Zimbabwe crisis.
Former President Shagari appointed him Minister for National Guidance in 1983, a portfolio designed to assist the president in tackling corruption.
When 12 states were created in 1967, Sule became Commissioner for Local Government in his native Kano State. He later moved to the Ministry of Forestry, Co-operatives and Community Development. He also served the state as Commissioner for Information.
Sule’s hard political view was that without free, fair elections and peaceful environment for people to freely express their rights, the sustainability of democracy would be under threat in Africa.
He believed in a united Nigeria, always insisting that “everyone has a gift from God."
The philosophy formed his opinion that "The Northerners are endowed by God with leadership qualities.
“The Yoruba man knows how to earn a living and has diplomatic qualities. The Igbo man is gifted in trade, commerce, and technological innovation. God so created us equally with purpose and different gifts.
“What Nigeria needs now is good leadership to develop and excel. Nigeria wants good leaders, not rulers, for it to take its pride of place in Africa. A country without good leadership cannot have good government."
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