Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday expressed “profound sorrow” about the news of the death of elder statesman, Maitama Sule.
Mr. Sule, a two-time minister and traditional title holder in Kano, died in Cairo, Egypt on Monday morning. He was 88.
His remains will be flown back to Nigeria on Tuesday, family sources disclosed earlier.
While describing him as a national asset, Mr. Osinbajo said Nigerians home and away will miss the immense contribution of Mr. Sule for the forseeable future.
“On behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Government and the entire people of Nigeria, the Acting President conveys heartfelt condolences on this loss of a great national asset,” Mr. Osinbajo said in a statement signed by his spokesman, Laolu Akande.
The acting president urged Mr. Sule’s “family, friends and associates, to be consoled by the fact that his selfless commitment to the stability of Nigeria will not be forgotten and would always be honoured.
“Alhaji Sule never relented applying his wealth of experience to advance the cause of unity, peace and progress of Nigeria, and his fatherly counsel to those in authority had always been bold, sincere and untainted,” the statement said.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, described Mr. Sule as “a colossus”.
Mr. Sule, a two-time minister and traditional title holder in Kano, died in Cairo, Egypt on Monday morning. He was 88.
His remains will be flown back to Nigeria on Tuesday, family sources disclosed earlier.
While describing him as a national asset, Mr. Osinbajo said Nigerians home and away will miss the immense contribution of Mr. Sule for the forseeable future.
“On behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Government and the entire people of Nigeria, the Acting President conveys heartfelt condolences on this loss of a great national asset,” Mr. Osinbajo said in a statement signed by his spokesman, Laolu Akande.
The acting president urged Mr. Sule’s “family, friends and associates, to be consoled by the fact that his selfless commitment to the stability of Nigeria will not be forgotten and would always be honoured.
“Alhaji Sule never relented applying his wealth of experience to advance the cause of unity, peace and progress of Nigeria, and his fatherly counsel to those in authority had always been bold, sincere and untainted,” the statement said.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, described Mr. Sule as “a colossus”.
“Undoubtedly, he was an icon of peace, transparency, a born orator, patriot and a distinguish statesman who gave his all for the unity and prosperity of Nigeria as one indivisible nation,” the speaker said in a statement signed by his media aide, Turaki Hassan.
“His death, is a monumental and huge loss to Nigeria and indeed the African continent in view of his contributions to the struggle against apartheid in South Africa.”
“Unfortunately, Maitama Sule died at a time when his elderly wisdom, experience, and deep sense of patriotism is much needed in our country given the fact that we are passing through a challenging phase in our history as a nation.”
“Our special and heartfelt condolences go to his immediate family, the people and government of Kano State even as we join all Nigerians and people of goodwill in mourning this monumental loss,” Mr. Dogara said.
Born in 1929 in the old city of Kano, Mr. Sule was famous for his oration and flamboyance.
In the 1979 transition to civil rule, Mr. Sule vied for the presidential ticket of the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, losing to his opponent, Shehu Shagari, in a controversial re-run.
Mr. Sule was appointed ambassador by then President Shagari and posted to the United Nations.
While at the UN, he chaired the United Nations Standing Committee Against Apartheid then ravaging South Africa.
“His death, is a monumental and huge loss to Nigeria and indeed the African continent in view of his contributions to the struggle against apartheid in South Africa.”
“Unfortunately, Maitama Sule died at a time when his elderly wisdom, experience, and deep sense of patriotism is much needed in our country given the fact that we are passing through a challenging phase in our history as a nation.”
“Our special and heartfelt condolences go to his immediate family, the people and government of Kano State even as we join all Nigerians and people of goodwill in mourning this monumental loss,” Mr. Dogara said.
Born in 1929 in the old city of Kano, Mr. Sule was famous for his oration and flamboyance.
In the 1979 transition to civil rule, Mr. Sule vied for the presidential ticket of the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, losing to his opponent, Shehu Shagari, in a controversial re-run.
Mr. Sule was appointed ambassador by then President Shagari and posted to the United Nations.
While at the UN, he chaired the United Nations Standing Committee Against Apartheid then ravaging South Africa.
Also, Sokoto state Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has described the death of Maitama Sule as a great loss, saying that the deceased had impacted the Nigeria in various spheres of human endeavour.
A statement issued by spokesperson to the governor, Malam Imam Imam Monday, Tambuwal said that the late orator and former diplomat was 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.
The governor also condoled his Kano state counterpart, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II and the entire people of Kano State over the loss.
Meanwhile, residents of Kano have expressed shock and dismay at the news of the death of Alhaji Yusuf Maitama-Sule, an elder statesman.
Since the news of his death broke, people have continued to troop to his two residences to confirm and sympathise with his family.
Some of the residents who spoke to NAN correspondent shared their sorrows towards the loss of the man whom they said spent his entire life for the development of the country.
A resident, Alhaji Balarabe Abdullahi, said Kano has indeed entered a pathetic situation for losing an elder statesman like Maitama-Sule.
He said late Sule mentored and advised the late Emir Ado Bayero.
A relation of the deceased, Hajiya Amina Ahmad, said Kano had lost a father whose advice kept the town alive
She said the elder statesman dedicated his entire life for the service of the nation and had a dream of a better Nigeria.
NAN reports that Kano residents wore gloomy faces on Sunday evening when some of his relations posted the condition of his health on the social media saying he needed prayers.
NAN reports that Kano residents wore gloomy faces on Sunday evening when some of his relations posted the condition of his health on the social media saying he needed prayers.
A family source, Nura Sheriff, confirmed the news of his death Monday morning in a press statement.
Maitama-Sule was a Federal Commissioner for Public Complaints in 1976 and a Presidential candidate under the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) but lost to Alhaji Shehu Shagari in 1979.
He was also appointed Nigeria’s envoy to the United Nations and became the Chairman of the United Nations Special Committee against Apartheid.
In 1983, Maitama-Sule became the Minister for National Guidance, a position that accorded him more national and international recognition.
He died at the age of 87 at an Egyptian Hospital in Cairo, leaving behind a wife and four children; having raised several other children within and outside his family.
No comments:
Post a Comment