diplomat, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, has
continued to elicit reactions from Nigerians
across the country. The erudite and respected
elder statesman died on Sunday, 2nd July 2017
at a hospital in Cairo, Egypt.
Maitama Sule belonged to the generation of
Nigeria’s founding fathers who fought for our
independence. He was fondly called the Golden
Voice from the North because of his oratorical
skills which he used to maximum effect to
dazzle his listeners. Even in advanced age and
failing health he remained his vintage, erudite
self as his voice retained its charm and power
as he spoke passionately of his dream for
Nigeria.
But last Sunday that voice went silent, signifying
that though death has its way on the mortal
flesh, it can never steal the noble legacies
people leave behind.
In a condolence letter, President Muhammadu
Buhari said of the departed elder statesman: “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 into 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”.
Indeed, an eloquent testimony of how Nigerians
value and appreciate his contribution to the
country’s development process and
achievements so far is the flood of tributes that
have continued to flow from individuals from all
walks of life.
While describing his death as a great loss to the
country, many have called on the Federal
Government to immortalise him.
Maitama Sule, the Dan Masanin Kano, was born
in 1929 at Ungwar Yola in present day Kano
Municipality. He started formal education by
enrolling at Shahuci Elementary School in 1937,
and on completion he proceeded to the Kano
Middle School and Kaduna College (now Barewa
College) in 1943. Among his many notable
accomplishments were his emergence at the age
of 20 as the first Vice-President of the Northern
Peoples Congress when it was formed in 1949.
He was elected into the House of
Representatives as the youngest Member of
Parliament (MP). He became the Minister of
Mines and Power in 1954 at the age of 29. He
became Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to
the United Nations after he narrowly missed the
opportunity of being nominated presidential
candidate of the defunct National Party of
Nigeria, NPN, that won federal power in 1979.
We join millions of Nigerians in bidding farewell
to Maitama Sule, and urge his family to take
heart.
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