The Kano State Government has declared Tuesday as public holiday in honour of the late elder-statesman and Danmasanim Kano, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule who died on Monday in a Cairo hospital.

A statement by the government said “Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has declared tomorrow, Tuesday a work-free day in the state to mourn the death of the elder statesman.”

The statement also said that funeral prayers for Sule would be conducted on Tuesday at the Palace of the Emir of Kano at Kofar Kudu by 4.00pm. The funeral prayers are expected to be followed by his internment.

Alhaji Yusuf MaitamaSule who died at the age of 87 was obviously one of the most colourful politicians and public figures Nigeria has had. Blessed with a deep, velvet voice, his oratorical prowess, even at advanced age, was compelling. He was an outstanding public speaker.

He had his political tutelage in Nigeria’s First Republic. In 1976, the Nigerian Military Government appointed him as Federal Commissioner for Public Complaints.

He was a strong candidate in the presidential primaries of the defunct National Party of Nigeria in 1979. Although he lost to AlhajiShehuShagari who eventually emerged as Nigeria’s President, he remained a respected political voice.

He commanded global attention as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations. Significantly, he played the important role of Chairman of the UN Special Committee Against Apartheid.

After Shagari was re-elected as President in 1983, he appointed Maitama Sule as Minister of National Guidance. It was a new portfolio intended to check rising moral decay in the polity, particularly, corruption. Unfortunately, both Shagari’s second term and the ministry were overturned by a military coup which brought then Major General Muhammadu Buhari to power.

Since the news of his demise was broken, prominent Nigerians have been pouring tributes to him. President Muhammadu Buhari who is on medical vacation in London, on Monday, sent in a lengthy written tribute to the Governor of Kano State. The letter read:

“I have heard this morning, the death of the venerable Alhaji Maitama Sule, Dan Masanin Kano, and one of Nigeria’s famous sons.

“Although I knew he was in poor health for some time, his death, nonetheless, came as a profound shock.

“As a Minister in the First Republic, he was one of those who assisted our Founding Fathers, Dr. NnamdiAzikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, AlhajiAhmadu Bello and AlhajiAbubakar Tafawa Balewa, to fashion Nigeria politically and lay the grounds of national co-existence.

“MaitamaSule was blessed by God with a wonderful voice and outstanding eloquence.

“He served with distinction in the First Republic, the Second Military regime, as well as the Second Republic, without him being tainted with the remotest hint of scandal.

“As a person, I found him personable with unceasing good humour.

“Nothing personified his faith more than the fact that, on losing his sight, he did not retreat in himself sulking on account of his ill-fortune.

“Quite to the contrary, he honoured virtually all invitations extended to him and spoke as usual with singular eloquence and unparalleled wit.

“In my discussions with him, I greatly valued his counsel, and I never ceased to be amazed by his concern for the well-being of his country rather than his personal interests.

“Let me extend my sincere condolences to Your Excellency, family and friends, the Government and people of Kano, and Nigerians as a whole, for this most heavy loss.

“We shall not soon see the like of him. May God forgive his sins and admit him to Paradise, Amin.”