Maitama Sule Didn’t Steal A Kobo From Gov’t — Jega

Professor Attahiru Jega, a former head of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), claims that the late Danmasanin Kano, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, did not embezzle or steal a kobo of public funds while serving the country in various roles at a young age.

The University Don made the remarks at a Leadership Lecture Series hosted by the Coalition of Northern Group Students Wing at Umaru Musa Yar’adua University in Katsina on Monday in honor of the late Danmasanin Kano, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule.

Professor Jega, while celebrating the attributes of the late Danmasanin Kano, whom he described as a father figure to him and someone he admires, said:

“The late Dan Masanin Kano, was a person I respected and he was a father to me throughout my stay in Kano as a student, a lecturer and as a vice chancellor and until his death. He really served as a father to me.

“He served this country selflessly with honour and integrity as a minister at a very young age, representing Northern Nigeria in the federal parliament and rose to hold three key ministerial positions, including the minister of power, steel and petroleum and who at the end of it really, did not steal a kobo.”

Prof Jega applauded the Coalition of Northern Group for their foresight and the honour bestowed upon the blessed memory of Danmasanin Kano.

Prof. Jega said: “I want to commend the Coalition of Northern Group for their foresight for giving honor to whom honor is due and in particular for their creativity in recognising the fact that there is need to begin an engagement for our youth in this part of the country if we have to salvage ourselves from the crises that have bastardised this country.”

At the event, different professionals spoke on the theme of the lecture: ‘The Political and Socio-economic Consequences of Border Porosity in Northern Nigeria’.

Prof Jega, speaking on the topic of the lecture, stated that border porosity has significant implications for Nigeria’s socioeconomic development.

According to him, while Nigeria has 84 regular border crossings that are properly manned, the country has roughly 1,499 illegal crossings as of 2003.

People cross into and out of the country with things that have ramifications for the nation’s socio-economic and political growth, according to the former INEC chairman.

Small and large weaponry are among the principal items that come into Nigeria through some of the illegal ways, according to him.