The Kano state government as declared Tuesday July 4 as public holiday to mourn the death of its illustrious son, Maitama Sule, (Danmasanin Kano), who died early hours of monday at an undisclosed hospital in Cairo, Egypt.
He died at the ripe age of 87.
In a statement, the state Commissioner for Information, Mohammed Garba, confirmed the death, saying he died in Cairo during a protracted illness.
The statement says the body on arriving Kano from Cairo would lie in state for some hours at the Emir’s palace, Mohammadu Sanusi II, to enable prominent Nigerians to mourn him before he would be laid to rest.
The statement reads: “The death has occurred today (Monday) of Alhaji (Dr.) Yusuf Maitama Sule, Dan Masanin Kano.
“Dr. Yusuf Maitama Sule died at a hospital in Cairo, Egypt, where he was receiving treatment for an illness.
“Funeral prayer for the deceased will be conducted tomorrow (Tuesday) at the Emir’s Palace, Kofar Kudu, by 4:00pm.”
Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has declared tomorrow Tuesday a work – free day in the state to mourn the death of the elder statesman.
Confirming his death, one of his surviving sons, Alhaji Mukhtar Maitama Sule, said he died in Egypt, 24 hours after his arrival at the hospital.
According to him, his dad’s remains would be flown to Nigeria tomorrow for burial.
His Political Profile In Brief
Maitama Sule became a member of Nigeria’s parliament at age 24, and a Minister at the age of 29.
He became the federal commissioner of public complaints in 1976 under the military government of Olusegun Obasanjo, a position which gave him the nickname ‘anti-corruption minister’.
In 1979, he contested as a presidential aspirant under the National Party of Nigeria but lost to Shehu Shagari, eventually won in the main election and became president.
The same year, he was appointed Nigeria’s representative to the United Nations, where he later emerged as chairman of the United Nations Special Committee against Apartheid.
In 1983, he returned back to Nigeria and was made the minister for National Guidance, again, another portfolio designed to tackle corruption within government circles.
