Nigeria mourns Maitama Sule, its leading statesman who died in Cairo

Nigerians are mourning the passing of one of its most famed orators, politician, businessman and leading statesman, Yusuf Maitama Sule.

Sule who was born in the north central, Kano State, died in a Cairo hospital on Monday morning, local media portals reported. As a result of his in-depth knowledge of Kano he was christened “Dan masannin Kano” – which translates to an expert on matters to do with Kano.

The Kano State government has declared Tuesday (July 4) a work free day as part of plans to mourn the passing of Nigeria’s longest serving petroleum minister.

He was a presidential candidate in 1979 under the aegis of the National Party of Nigeria, but he lost the election to Shehu Shagari – the country’s sixth president.

Three years before his presidential mission, he was appointed the nation’s first ombudsman – as Federal Commissioner on public complaints. He served as Nigeria’s representative to the United Nations and was the head of the U.N. Special Committee against Apartheid.

Nigeria’s Twitter space has been flooded with messages of his passing.

Pray for Allah’s infinite mercy and forgiveness on our great leader, Alhaji (Dr.) Yusuf Maitama Sule. RIJF pic.twitter.com/EMWwyVhi46

— Jamila (@JKFagge) July 3, 2017

An orator per excellence, a walking encyclopedia, the authentic speaker of truth to power, jovial and charismatic. Late Danmasanin Kano #RIP pic.twitter.com/0UHr2rF9fP

— Peacock (@dawisu) July 3, 2017

Maitama Sule departed.An era has ended.He simply walk out on us as a nation.May Allah grant him Aljanna Firdausi.Amin.

— Senator Shehu Sani (@shehusani) July 3, 2017

Former Ngerian Permanent Rep to the UN and two time Minister, Yusuf Maitama Sule has died in Egypt aged 88 according to his aide Sani Darma. pic.twitter.com/S1u6VWs504

— Kadaria Ahmed (@KadariaAhmed) July 3, 2017

I loved listening to Maitama Sule, the Dan masanin Kano.
He was a great orator, who spoke with reason, knowledge and objectivity
May he RIP pic.twitter.com/nLut7M6Uae

— ZahrahMusa (@Zahrahmusa) July 3, 2017