Yusuf Maitama Sule
Federal Commissioner of Public Complaints
In office
1976–?
Nigeria's Representative to the United Nations
In office
1979–?
Succeeded byTijjani Muhammad Bande
Minister for National Guidance
In office
1983–?
Minister of Mines and Power
In office
1954–1966
Dan Masanin Kano
Personal details
Born(1929-10-01)1 October 1929
Kano State, Nigeria Kano municipal, Yola quarters
Died3 July 2017(2017-07-03) (aged 87)
Cairo, Egypt

Funeral Kano emir's palace

Buried at Kara grave yard
Children10
OccupationLegislature
ProfessionPolitician, Businessman, farmer

Yusuf Maitama Sulepronunciationⓘ (1 October 1929 – 3 July 2017) was a Nigerian politician, diplomat, and elderly statesman who held the danmasanin Kano a chieftaincy title. In 1955-1956 he was the chief whip of the Federal House of Representatives. In 1960 he led the Nigerian delegation to the Conference of Independent African States. In 1976, he became the Federal Commissioner of public complaints, a position that made him the nation's pioneer ombudsman. In early 1979, he was the presidential candidate of the National Party of Nigeria but lost to Shehu Shagari. He was appointed Nigeria's representative to the United Nations after the coming of civilian rule in September 1979. While there he was chairman of the United Nations Special Committee against Apartheid.[1]

After the re-election of President Shagari in 1983, Maitama Sule was made the Minister for National Guidance, a portfolio designed to assist the president in tackling corruption.[2]

Career

Public Complaints Commission

The rise of economic nationalism during the 1970s led to the enactment of a decree stipulating minimum requirements for local content in many companies doing business in Nigeria. To capitalize on the benefits of indigenous control of the economy, many permanent secretaries, federal commissioners, state governors and their cronies established firms to conduct business with the government.[3] It was with the intent of patching the revolving door and to stem small-time corruption that the Public Complaints Commission was created in 1975. It was meant to hear and tackle complaints by the common man in a simple and efficient manner. Sule, as head of the commission, was known to have taken his job seriously, partly because he was a potent political commodity and had a lot to gain from the good will of the people when a transition to civilian rule was in place.[4] As a result of the commission's effort, corruption during the period was temporarily curtailed.[5]

National guidance

In 1983, Sule returned to a familiar role, this time under a democratic government as the head of a ministry to tackle corruption. The new but short-lived ministry was created solely to invest time in an ethical re-orientation of Nigerians. Sule, who had acquired a solid reputation as a tough U.N representative when he was chairman of a U.N. special committee on apartheid, was asked to lead the ministry. However, his appointment was not satisfactory to critics. Shagari's administration was removed by a coup, with the coupists citing corruption as a major reason for the incursion.

Polemical statement

Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule said,

Everyone has a gift from God. The Northerners are endowed by God with leadership qualities. The Yoruba man knows how to earn a living and has diplomatic qualities. The igbo man is gifted in trade, commerce, and technological innovation. God so created us equally with purpose and different gifts.

The aforementioned statement has been used by some to stir up fears of northern political domination in the country. The fear of northern dominance can however not be dismissed.[6]

"May God give this country leaders not rulers, leaders with the fear of God."

Death

Sule died on 2 July 2017 in a hospital in Cairo,[7] Egypt, after suffering from pneumonia and a chest infection.[8][9]

References

  1. ↑ "UN launches anti-apartheid year," The Globe and Mail (Canada). January 12, 1982
  2. ↑ Peter Blackburn, "Corruption in Nigeria: can it be ended in land of greased palms,"? Christian Science Monitor. December 5, 1983
  3. ↑ Simone K. Panter-Brick, Soldiers and Oil: The Political Transformation of Nigeria. Frank Cass, 1978. p 123. ISBN 0-7146-3098-5
  4. ↑ Simone K. Panter-Brick, Soldiers and Oil: The Political Transformation of Nigeria. Frank Cass, 1978. p 124. ISBN 0-7146-3098-5
  5. ↑ "Price, John Lloyd, (14 Feb. 1882–23 April 1941), JP; MP; Member for Boothby, Federal House of Representatives, since 1928; Member Commonwealth Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works; Deputy Chairman of Committees, Federal House Representatives; Secretary of the Federal Parliamentary United Australia Party and Deputy Government Whip", Who Was Who, Oxford University Press, 2007-12-01, doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u230653
  6. ↑ David C. L. Lim, The Infinite Longing for Home: desire and the nation in selected writings of Ben Okri and K.S. Rodopi, 2005. p 24. ISBN 90-420-1677-9
  7. ↑ AfricaNews (2017-07-03). "Nigeria mourns Maitama Sule, its leading statesman who died in Cairo". Africanews. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  8. ↑ Muryar Arewa. "Rasuwar Dan Masanin Kano - Muryar Arewa". Muryar Arewa. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  9. ↑ Abdulaziz, Abdulaziz. "Elder statesman Maitama Sule is dead". Premium Times. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
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