• FG pledges to extol late statesman’s virtues
By Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano
The Kano State Government yesterday renamed the North West University of Kano after the late elder statesman, Yusuf Maitama Sule.
The decision was unanimously agreed at the state executive council meeting held on Wednesday night to immortalise the late Danmasanin Kano due to his immense contributions to the development of the state, Arewa and Nigeria at large.
The state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Mohammed Garba, told journalists in Kano yesterday that the council also approved the renaming of Dawaki Road where the residence of Sule is located to Yusuf Maitama Sule Road, while the current Yusuf Maitama Sule Link Road has been renamed Jafaru Dan Mallam Link Road.
The decision was reached after an extensive deliberation at the extraordinary council meeting, and taking into account calls from within and outside the state, for the state government to honour late Danmasanin Kano since his demise.
He said Governor Ganduje’s administration is determined to honour the sons and daughters of the state who have sacrificed their lives to the development of the state.
Meanwhile, the acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has pledged the federal government’s commitment to sustaining the virtue of unity as exemplified by late Danmasanin of Kano, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule.
Osinbajo spoke in Kano yesterday when he paid condolence visit to the family and relatives of late Sule at his private residence saying the deceased lived a life of simplicity and humility despite his worth of wisdom that command global respect.
“My visit is not only in my capacity as acting president, I am here as son of late Danmasanin Kano. I met this great man for the first time in my life when I was 15 years old, later, during my university days as lecturer and at the Aso-Rock in Abuja.
He also described the late sage as bridge builder who fought profoundly for political and human development of the country
The acting president stated that the vacuum left behind by the former Nigeria Permanent Representative to United Nations would be difficult to fill.
“I can tell you that it is difficult to find a role model and rare gem in this country, but I have the privilege to let you know that Alhaji Maitama Sule is my role model and a rare Nigerian.
“Kano will truly miss an illustrious son and Nigeria will also miss a great nationalist. For me, I will rather want to celebrate instead of mourning. I actually received a call when he was being taken to Cairo for treatment but it is sad that that was the last I would hear about him,†Osinbajo said.
In his remarks also, Kano State Governor, Ganduje, told the acting president that Sule had lived all his life in a mud house in the city after serving the nation meritoriously before he moved into the present family house some 15 years ago.
Osinbajo also paid homage to Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, at his palace to console him over the loss of Sule.Â
