Alhaji Maitama Sule: still alive

Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, former Nigerian ambassador to the United Nations and former minister, is not dead.

Alhaji Ashiru Sharif, a close aide to Sule, who is the Danmasani of Kano said the rumour going round the state that the elder statesman is dead, is untrue.

Sharif dismissed the rumour while speaking with newsmen in Kano on Monday.

He described the rumour as “baseless and unfounded’’ saying that the Danmasani was hale and hearty.

“The rumour of the death of Danmasani is not true because as I am talking to you now he is hale and hearty,” he said.

Sharif advised those spreading the rumour to desist from doing so, stressing that it would create unnecessary impression in the minds of people.

“Following the rumour, we have been receiving phone calls from within and outside Kano to verify the story,” he said.

The residence of the elder statesman on Kwairanga road on Monday evening was all calm.