Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state has said that his administration had reason to immortalise the late elder statesman, the Danmasanin Kano, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, as a result of “his immense contributions to the development of Nigeria before and after independence.” Speaking while inaugurating the Committee for the establishment of Yusuf Maitama Sule Centre for the
Advancement of Politics and Research held at Kano government house yesterday, Ganduje stated that the late diplomat and politician had carved an enviable niche in all spheres of human endeavour which had made him to stand tall among his peers.
“Nigeria as a developing country would have been in the fog of under-development and backwardness without the contribution and sacrifice made by people like the late Danmasani Kano,’ he said, stressing that “his image as a statesman and credible human persona was much revered beyond Nigeria’s shores, courtesy of his eminent status as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.” “As we are standing in this hall to honour a personality of great substance, his friends and contemporaries like the Galadiman Katsina, Justice Mammman Nasir, would bear me witness that we have conceived a laudable idea of establishing the edifice of research and scholarship to be named after his person.
“What we have conceived is the right step in the right direction to us; the late Maitama Sule was a father and great mentor. We were no doubt inspired by his wisdom in politics, knowledge of statecraft and sheer power of oratory and the capacity to steal the show at every function he was invited.” Responding, the chairman of the Committee, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said he had been honoured to discharge such a herculean responsibility considering the calibre of eminent personalities serving as members. The Committee, which has members drawn from the academia, traditional institution and the business community, is expected to submit its recommendations within eight weeks.
