By Our Reporter
Nigerians have been eulogizing the passing of elder statesman and former Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) during the First Republic, Maitama Sule, Dan Masanin of Kano.
Sule, a politician, diplomat and orator died in Cairo Egypt on Monday, July 3 at the age of 88. He is due for burial tomorrow in Kano.
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday expressed “profound sorrow” about news of Sule’s death.
He described him as a national asset, adding that Nigerians home and away will miss the immense contribution of Sule for the foreseeable 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,” Osinbajo said in a statement signed by his spokesman, Laolu Akande.
Osinbajo urged 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.
Also, Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, expressed deep grief over his passing describing Sule as a social crusader and patriotic Nigerian.
Ekweremadu, not only paid glowing tribute to the late politician, but described the death as a heavy blow, not only to the Government and good people of Kano State, but also the entire nation.
He said: “This is the exit of a patriot, true statesman, role model, social crusader, diplomat of an uncommon pedigree, and an orator, who served the nation and humanity in many capacities.
“Although he was popularly known as Dan Masanin Kano, some of us preferred to call him Dan Masanin Nigeria, for he had a rare national appeal and loomed larger than life itself even in his humility. A man of unimpeachable integrity and agent of national rebirth, Dan Masanin was, true to his title, a man of the people, mouthpiece of the poor, master of words, peacemaker, and diplomat per excellence.”
Ekweremadu, regretted that Sule did not live to witness the Nigeria of his dream, which he fervently preached, prayed, and worked for.
“As a people, therefore, we owe it to his memory to bring to fruition his dream of a truly united Nigeria where everyone is his brother’s keeper, a nation that is the pride of Africa, a bastion of democracy, citadel of peace, and an economic giant”.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, described 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,” Dogara said.
On his own, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State said the death was a rude shock to him and extoled Sule’s life. He described him as a vocal nationalist and peaceful statesman.
The governor said, ”with the demise of Sule, the nation and indeed, Africa have lost one of the finest and vocal nationalists who had lived his life preaching peace and unity of purpose for the nation.”
Okorocha wrote of Sule: “As a federal minister and Nigerian Ambassador to the United Nation respectively and even as the then leader of the Northern Elders Forum, the Dan Masanin Kano displayed exemplary leadership and commitment to service for the good of all.”
Okorocha regretted that Sule had died at a period when the nation needs detribalised leaders like him to be around, adding that the nation won’t forget the enviable contributions of Sule to the development and growth of the nation in a hurry.
“In many years to come history and posterity will be fair to Sule because he acted well his part both as a leader and as an elder statesman and since honour lies in one acting well his part.”
Okorocha extended his condolences to the governor, government and people of Kano State over the death of Sule, and prayed that “the Almighty God would grant those he left behind to mourn him all they need to bear with this great loss.”