Etisalat CEO, CFO Resign as Crisis Deepens

NCC, CBN in crucial meeting with telco, banks Commission’s board to meet today

The debt crises rocking Etisalat Nigeria took a new turn yesterday when the company’s chief executive officer (CEO), Mr. Matthew Willsher, and chief financial officer (CFO), Mr. Wole Obasunloye, resigned their appointments.

Their resignation came a few days after its Emirati non-executive directors (NEDs), representing the interests of Mubadala Development Company and Emirates Telecoms Group Company’s (Etisalat Group) also stepped down from the board, following the Nigerian company’s inability to meet its loan repayments amounting to $1.2 billion to 13 Nigerian banks.

The resignations also followed Etisalat Group’s reporting disclosure on the

that Sule’s father named his only son, born in 1929, Yusuf.

Sule often made references to his family background and described education as what placed him shoulder high with the emir, instead of serving him. Under the benevolent guidance of his father’s master, young Sule was enrolled at Shahuci Elementary School in 1937. He subsequently attended Kano Middle School and Kaduna College (now Barewa College). Sule taught at his alma mater, Kano Middle School and played significant roles in social mobilisation, touring villages with then Emir Muhammadu Sanusi throughout the emirate, on health, literacy and tax campaigns.

The emir would later turban him Dan Masanin Kano, in acknowledgment of Sule’s knowledge, wisdom and roles in public campaigns. True to his title, Sule remained a repository of Kano and Nigeria’s history as well as an acclaimed public speaker with sharp wit.

He left behind his wife and nine children. Kano Declares Day of Mourning Reacting to his death yesterday, the Kano State Government declared today a work free day to mourn the death of the elder statesman.

A statement by the state Commissioner for Information, Mohammed Garba added that his remains will be flown into Kano today and his funeral will take place at 4 p.m. at the Kano Central Mosque and Emir of Kano’s palace.

A family source also confirmed that the aircraft conveying his body would land at the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, at 2 p.m.

When news of Sule’s death broke in Kano yesterday morning, the metropolis was thrown into mourning, even as mosques in the city and other areas of gathering began to recite verses from the Quran, seeking God’s forgiveness and for the repose of his soul.

Commenting on his passing, a Kano resident, Alhaji Kabiru Yau Abdullahi, said the North had lost an elder statesman who spent his life serving the people.

He said the late Sule had mentored and advised the late Emir Ado Bayero.

A relation of the deceased, Mrs. Amina Ahmad, also said Kano had lost a father whose advice kept the town alive, pointing out that Maitama spent his entire life in the service of the nation and had a dream of a better Nigeria. Leaders Mourn

In his reaction to Sule’s death, President Muhammadu Buhari also expressed shock over the passage of the former Permanent Representative at the United Nations and personally sent a letter of condolence to the Kano State governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

A statement by his media aide, Malam Garba Shehu said Buhari in his letter, expressed profound shock over the death of the elder statesman.

The statement which also said Buhari described the death of Sule as a heavy loss, added that the letter would be delivered by a delegation of the federal government to be constituted by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the burial.

The letter read: “I have heard this morning, the death of the venerable Alhaji Maitama Sule, Dan Masanin Kano, and one of Nigeria’s famous sons. Although I knew he was in poor health for some time, his death nonetheless, came as a profound shock.

“As a Minister in the First Republic, he was one of those who assisted our founding fathers, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello and Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, to fashion Nigeria politically and lay the grounds of national co-existence.

“Maitama Sule was blessed by God with a wonderful voice and outstanding eloquence. He served with distinction in the First Republic, the Second Military regime, as well as the Second Republic, without him being tainted with the remotest hint of scandal.

“As a person, I found him personable with unceasing good humour. Nothing personified his faith more than the fact that on losing his sight, he did not retreat in himself sulking on account of his ill-fortune. Quite to the contrary, he honoured virtually all invitations extended to him and spoke as usual with singular eloquence and unparalleled wit.

“In my discussions with him, I greatly valued his counsel, and I never ceased to be amazed by his concern for the well-being of his country rather than his personal interests.

“Let me extend my sincere condolences to Your Excellency, family and friends, the government and people of Kano, and Nigerians as a whole, for this most heavy loss. We shall not soon see the like of him. May God forgive his sins and admit him to Paradise, Amin.”

In the same vein, Osinbajo yesterday said he received the news of Sule’s passage with profound sorrow, describing the deceased as an orator, elder statesman, distinguished diplomat and the Dan Masinin Kano.

A statement by his media aide, Mr. Laolu Akande said the acting president extended his deep and heartfelt condolences to Sule’s family, friends, associates and the government of Kano State and prayed to the Almighty God to comfort them all.

The statement further said Osinbajo observed that Sule would be best remembered on the global scene as one of Nigeria’s “foremost envoys whose clarity of voice and vision contributed significantly to the high esteem and respect Nigeria earned at the United Nations”.

While conveying the federal government’s condolences to the family of the deceased and the Kano State Government on behalf of Buhari, Osinbajo further described Sule as an illustrious son of Nigeria, great Nigerian leader and committed nationalist who positioned himself as an agent of unity, lamenting that his death was a loss to Nigeria.

In his condolence message, former President Goodluck Jonathan, in a statement by his media aide, Ikechukwu Eze described Sule as a bridge builder and advocate of peaceful co-existence who worked relentlessly for Nigeria’s development.

He described him as a committed patriot and celebrated African statesman, whose efforts helped bring an end to apartheid.

The statement read: “I am deeply saddened by the passage of Dan Masanin Kano, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, who died today at the age of 88.

“He was an accomplished leader, diplomat and elder statesman who served Nigeria and Africa in different capacities to the best of his abilities. I remember him as a great leader who worked relentlessly for Nigeria’s development.

“He functioned as a reliable navigator in difficult times both at home and abroad, especially with the commitment he showed towards dismantling the last vestiges of apartheid.

“The canon he preached and lived as a committed patriot was genuine love for our nation which manifested in his sincerity, hard work and deep embrace of people and politicians from all parts of the country.

“He lived a long and rewarding life and will be greatly missed. May the Almighty grant him al Jannah Firdaus. My condolences to his family, the government and people of Kano State.”

Former vice president and chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar also said that Sule’s unblemished public service record was one of the greatest and most indelible virtues for which he would be remembered by Nigerians and the world.

Atiku, in a statement from his media office, noted that the deceased was one of Nigeria’s greatest and most remarkable politicians whose vast experience, knowledge and wisdom were invaluable and immeasurable.

According to him, the late Sule was an epitome of selfless service to the people, adding that politicians of his generation were dedicated to service with integrity, qualities which he said, have been significantly eroded since the end of the First Republic.

The former vice president extended his condolences to the government, the family and the people of Kano State on the death of the illustrious and remarkable politician.

In their messages, the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki and Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu also mourned the death of the elder statesman.

Saraki, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, said it was gratifying that the late Sule witnessed modest achievements in the country he believed in.

He added that the late Sule was a detribalised Nigerian, core democrat, accomplished civil servant and exceptional orator who spoke the truth at all times.

The Senate President expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased, the Kano Emirate, and the government and people of Kano state.

Saraki called on Nigerians to pay the highest respect to Sule’s legacies, by toeing the path of dialogue in addressing their grievances and eschewing ethnic tensions.

He also called on both the federal and the Kano State governments to immortalise Sule as the great icon of peace and an advocate of justice and fairness.

Ekweremadu, in a statement, lamented that Sule did not live to witness the Nigeria of his dream, which he fervently preached, prayed, and worked for.

He described the demise as a blow, not only to the government and people of Kano state, but to the entire nation.

“This is the exit of a patriot, true statesman, role model, social crusader, diplomat of an uncommon pedigree, and an orator, who served the nation and humanity in many capacities.

“Although he was popularly known as Dan Masanin Kano, some of us preferred to call him Dan Masanin Nigeria, for he had a rare national appeal and loomed larger than life itself even in his humility.

“A man of unimpeachable integrity and agent of national rebirth, Dan Masanin was true to his title, a man of the people, mouthpiece of the poor, master of words, peacemaker and diplomat par excellence.

“As a people, therefore, we owe it to his memory to bring to fruition his dream of a truly united Nigeria where everyone is his brother’s keeper, a nation that is the pride of Africa, a bastion of democracy, the citadel of peace, and an economic giant,” Ekweremadu said.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, in his message, described the death of Sule as a monumental loss to the African continent.

He said notwithstanding the fact that the deceased was of age, the sad news of his death came to him as a shock.

He described him as a colossus, patriot, father to all, and a distinguished elder statesman who wrote his name in gold in the annals of Nigeria's history.

Dogara expressed his heartfelt condolence to his immediate family, the people and government of Kano State and all Nigerians mourning his passing.