Ex-Minister Of Commerce Bello Maitama Dies At 76

A former Minister of Commerce and two-tiwe Senator, Bello Maitama (Sardaunan Dutse), has passed on at the age of 76.

Senator Bello Maitama died in the early hours of Friday in Kano State after a brief illness.

Maitama, a renowned Islamic scholar, served as Minister of Interior between 1980-1982 and Minister of Commerce from 1982-1983. He was also a Senator representing Jigawa South-West in the National Assembly between 1999-2007 under the defunct All People’s Party (APP).

Beyond politics, he was a prominent traditional title holder. He was the chairman of Jigawa State Delegates to the National Constitutional Delegates Conference.

According to a family source, he will be buried after the Juma’at prayers in Kano this Friday.

Meanwhile, the Jigawa State government has confirmed his demise through the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to State Governor, Mallam Hamisu Muhammad Gumel, who described his death as a devastating and a huge loss not only to his family and Jigawa State alone but the whole nation.

“Bello was a lawyer, a politician, a well knowledgeable man, who distinguished himself in selfless service to God, nation and humanity. His contribution to national unity, democracy will remain indelible in history,” the CPS stated.