11 years after: Jonathan eulogises former President Yar’Adua

Former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, on Wednesday, eulogised the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua 11 years after his death.

The late Yar’Adua died May 5, 2010, after ruling Nigeria for three years.

Goodluck Jonathan, Yar’Adua’s Vice President then, later became the President of the nation.

In memory of late Yar’Adua, Jonathan depicted his previous boss as a “peacemaker, nation builder, and democrat”.

He wrote, “Today, I celebrate my boss, friend, colleague, and brother, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua who departed this world 11 years ago. As politicians, we shared a common vision of a peaceful, united and just nation.

“President Yar’Adua kept faith with this vision, channelling his strength and time in pursuit of an egalitarian society, until his last breath.

“Although out of our sight, his legacies live with us and his memory we will continue to cherish.

“We will always remember him as a peacemaker, nation builder, and democrat whose timeline was defined by virtues of service, peace, truth and love.”

Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was born 16 August 1951 in Katsina state. He was a politician who was the President of Nigeria from 2007 to 2010.

He was declared the winner of the Nigerian presidential election held on 21 April 2007, and was sworn in on 29 May 2007.

He formerly served as the Governor of Katsina state from 1999 to 2007; and was a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

In 2009, Yar’Adua left for Saudi Arabia to receive treatment for pericarditis. He returned to Nigeria on 24 February 2010, where he died on 5 May.

He attended Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria from 1972 to 1975, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Education and Chemistry, and then returned in 1978 to pursue a master’s degree in Analytical Chemistry.

Yar’Adua was married to Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua and they have five daughters and two sons.