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.
The letter, personally signed by the President, also
described the death of Alhaji Sule as a "heavy loss."
It will be delivered by the federal government delegation to
the burial as constituted by the Acting President.
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."
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