President Muhammadu Buhari has sent a personal letter of condolence to the Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar
Ganduje, in which he expressed profound shock over the death of elder statesman, Alhaji (Dr) Yusuf Maitama Sule who died in Egypt on Monday. According to a statement released by the presidential media aide,
Garba Shehu, President Buhari in the letter of condolence which he personally signed, described the death of Alhaji Sule as a “heavy loss.”.
Garba said the letter will be delivered by the federal government delegation to the burial as constituted by the Acting President today July 4th.
The President’s letter reads thus:
“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 Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello and Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, to fashion Nigeria politically and lay the grounds of national co-existence.
“Maitama Sule 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.”
