What we’ll miss about Yar’adua – Family

At late President Yar’adua’s family house, two days after the departure of their patriarch, family members remain in grief. Weekly Trust observed many of the immediate family members fighting hard to control tears from running down their cheeks as they stepped into the family house. While the former first lady, Hajiya Turai Yar’adua and her children wore sorrowful faces all through, other women members of the family cried profusely. Mother of the late President, Hajiya Dada Musa Yar’adua, however, remained calm, politely receiving condolences from numerous sympathizers who thronged the house.

Spokesperson for the family, Alhaji Zubairu Ali Gafai, told this reporter that no one can quantify the gravity of Yar’adua’s loss to the family but added that as Muslims they cannot but only accept their fate and double their efforts in praying for the repose of his soul. He said the entire family has directed him to convey their gratitude to the people of Katsina State for their love and solidarity as well as other Nigerians who remained steadfast in their prayers for the president’s recovery from ill heath and even now, after his exit.

In the same vein, Yar’adua’s cousin and Managing Director of the Federal Inland Waterways, Architect Ahmed Aminu Yar’adua, told Weekly Trust that the family has lost a pillar, an amiable leader and that they will all miss a great elder brother who always stood for the well-being of his family. He said the President was one person who listened attentively to the complaints of all family members irrespective of their ages and was a patient, straightforward and honest leader.

At the family house were many of late Yar’adua’s grandchildren, nieces and nephews. An unidentified youngster was being led by a slightly older one. The younger one, tearfully said: “Where’s Baba? I want to see Baba. Why are there so many people in our house? I want to see Baba!” An elderly woman, nearby, pointed to the kids and told another that they are the late president’s grandchildren.

Weekly Trust observed that Governors of Katsina, Ibrahim Shema, Isa Yuguda of Bauchi and Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi as well as emirs of Katsina and Daura are among the family members and close associates who are presently receiving condolences at the Yar’adua family house in Katsina. Also among the earlier callers yesterday includes the CBN governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, former Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Bello Masari and the former civilian governors of old Kaduna and Katsina states, Alhaji Lawal Kaita and Alhaji Saidu Barda among others.

In a message he sent to Weekly Trust from London, a political protégé of the late President and executive secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF). Engr Muttaqha Rabe Darma, described late Yar’adua as a decent personality and a perfect gentleman in the murky waters of Nigerian politics. Also speaking to newsmen during the condolences, former Speaker, Aminu Bello Masari, said that he has lost a friend of over forty years  and a person who stood firm for the rule of law and due process describing his amnesty program as a landmark achievement that must be sustained.

In the words of the CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Nigeria has lost an irreplaceable leader whose virtues of honesty, hard work, sincerity and dedication are distinct. But for his insistence on due process, the banking reform process may never have become a success. In the same vein, the Comptroller-General (CG) of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Dikko Inde, described the loss as a great tragedy to the nation, Africa and the entire world because the country lost a leader who was simple and who insisted on doing what was right.

Chief Imam of the Abuja Central Mosque Sheikh Musa Mohammed, said the country had the best hope in Yar’adua to have a good place in the hereafter because he never joked with the tenets of his religion despite exigencies of duties as president. He said his loss is one that can never be forgotten due to his simplicity, humility and uprightness, adding that he could not sleep since he learnt of Yar’adua’s death after missing an opportunity to see him again last week.

In the meantime, people of Katsina state are yet to recover from the shock that the death of the President has thrown them into, as many people throng the grave of the President to pay last respects.

A mourner, visiting the grave, one Jamilu Dahiru Saude, told this reporter that all Katsina citizens are grieving over the shocking death because he had impacted on many during his reign as governor, saying they will remain proud of his achievements despite the short period he stayed in office as President. “It is our pride that he died, not disgraced but as a dignified leader,” Saude said, in tears. “We’ll miss him for his kind-heartedness.”