From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, and Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar, has described the death of Dan Masanin Kano, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, in a hospital in Egypt, as a great loss to the Nigerian people and to the state, its peoples and its emirate council, in particular.
In a statement by the Head, Media and Public Affairs, NGF Secretariat, Abulrazque Barkindo, Yari further described Sule as an astute politician, administrator and orator who has impacted the nation positively in various spheres of human endeavor.
The NGF chairman said the nation will hardly recover from the loss of such a wise fellow whose passion for national development was unquenchable.
The Zamfara governor also described the late Sule as a complete gentleman and good citizen who dedicated his life to the unity, progress and development of Nigeria.
He disclosed how the NGF and, indeed, all state governors had always relied on Sule as a close confidant, and cited naming of very prominent streets in some parts of the country by many of them as evidence of their affection for the late politician.
“Our country has lost a rare gem. Dan Masanin was a leading light of the old generation and with his demise the last of that generation has now been finally 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 Masanin, they will read about a man who was cherished and respected by the high and mighty from all parts of the country,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed shock over Sule’s death.
In a statement issued yesterday night by its spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the party commiserated with Kano and the family of the deceased politician over his demise.
The caretaker committee said Sule’s death is not only a loss to Nigeria, but to Africa, and noted that he would be missed for his wise counsel.
“Late Maitama Sule was pioneer chairman of the Public Complaint Commission (PCC) in 1975, an office created by the Regime to hear complaints from Nigerians, on all issues of governance.
“He carried out this responsibility diligently and reduced corruption index in the country by using the PCC Platform to expose corrupt officers in government.
“He was a two-time minister in the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Commerce respectively; Nigerian’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) in 1979 and he served as the Chairman of the UN Special Committee on Apartheid during the first tenure of Alhaji Shehu Shagari, a position he discharged with great responsibilities especially in the Apartied discussions of South Africa.