By Chuks Ogbu
Nigerians are celebrating the 10 years Memorial of a former president, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who died in office ten years ago today.
The one-time Katsina State governor is revered as by far the best leader of Africa’s most populous nation since the return to multi-party democracy in 1999.
He was the second civilian president under Nigeria’s current constitution. He won controversial polls after his predecessor – Olusegun Obansanjo’s – plans to extend his stay from 1999 – 2007 got stiff opposition from the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He took office in 2007 and led for 3 years. He died aged 58 in Saudi Arabia – and was flown back for burial. The known cause of death was pericarditis – inflammation of a membrane around the heart.
He was succeeded by his then vice-president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Jonathan completed Yar Adua’s term and won a substantive term in 2011. He failed to secure a final term in 2015 after he was defeated by incumbent Muhammadu Buhari.
Jonathan was among the first to post a message of remembrance of his former boss on social media. The outgoing Senate President, Bukola Saraki; former vice president Atiku Abubakar and others have since done same.
Former President Jonathan wrote :
It has been a decade since His Excellency President Umar Musa Yar’Adua was snatched by the cold hands of death. On this day, every year, his image fills our consciousness as a mark of his selflessness, typical modesty and exceptional flair.
He was a President like no other who lived and died for the sake of his country. He stood on the side of the people, toiling day and night to make their lives better.
President Yar’Adua built strong bridges of hope, love and understanding for which he became a force for national unity and positive change across our blessed land.
In many ways he stood out. He had an accommodating spirit and enormous goodwill that secreted a web around our national fault lines to strengthen the bond; thus leaving for his successors the task of reinforcing the band.
President Yar’Adua no doubt left enduring legacies in his wholehearted devotion to the ideals of democracy, respect for peoples’ rights, freedoms and reason for living as well as commitment to the rule of law and laws of equity and justice.
I will continue to remember President Yar’Adua as a colleague and boss who became my brother and friend.
GEJ.
Follow me on Instagram @ Chuks_The_Pundit.