UPDATED: Kano declares Tuesday public holiday to mourn Maitama Sule

UPDATED: Kano declares Tuesday public holiday to mourn Maitama Sule

- Foremost northern leader and ex-Nigerian minister Alhaji Maitama Sule is dead

- He was a presidential candidate of the National Party of Nigeria but lost to Shehu Shagari

- The Kano state government has therefore declared Tuesday July 4 as public holiday to mourn the deceased

The Kano state government on Monday July 3 declared tomorrow (Tuesday) July 4 public holiday to mourn the passing away of its illustrious son, Alhaji Maitama Sule, (Danmasanin Kano), who joined his ancestors at the early hours of today at an undisclosed hospital in Cairo, where he was rushed to for medical attention.

In a terse statement, issued and signed by the state Commissioner for Information, Mallam Mohammed Garba, who confirmed the death to newsmen in Kano, disclosed that he died in Cairo during a protracted illness.

According to him, the late Danmasanin Kano’s body on arrival from Cairo would lie in state for some hours at the Emir’s palace, Mallam Mohammadu Sanusi 11, 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 a befitting burial, according to Muslim injunctions.

Legit.ng had earlier reported that the former minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Ambassador Maitama Sule died at 88.

Legit.ng also reported that Yusuf Maitama Sule was a Nigerian politician, acclaimed orator and diplomat. In 1976, he became the federal commissioner of public complaints, a position that made him the nation's pioneer ombudsman.

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In early 1979, he was a presidential candidate of the National Party of Nigeria but lost to Shehu Shagari.

He was appointed Nigeria's representative to the United Nations after the coming of civilian rule in September 1979. While there he was chairman of the United Nations Special Committee against Apartheid.

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After, the re-election of President Shagari in 1983, Maitama Sule was made the Minister for National Guidance, a portfolio designed to assist the president in tackling corruption.

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Source: Legit.ng

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