Yar’adua: Two years after

A calm, no nonsense and well disciplined leader, late Yar’Adua died at the time Nigeria needs a focused leader of his like, some of his subordinates said. He was described as a simple, level-headed and a down- to- earth leader that Nigeria ever had. As somebody who doesn’t believe in acquisition of wealth, he was […]

A calm, no nonsense and well disciplined leader, late Yar’Adua died at the time Nigeria needs a focused leader of his like, some of his subordinates said. He was described as a simple, level-headed and a down- to- earth leader that Nigeria ever had. As somebody who doesn’t believe in acquisition of wealth, he was identified to be modest in dressing and food as well. Late Umaru Musa Yar’adua was also defined as a President who believes in serving people to best of his ability and above all a God fearing leader.

 

Yar’Adua as Governor

Late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was found to be a true leader worthy of emulation and somebody with high sense of responsibility who believes in personal integrity and self-discipline with genuine commitment for the development of Katsina State and the nation at large. This was the assertion of Dr. Mustapha Inuwa, a former Secretary to Katsina State Government, who served the late Yar’aua regime.

Dr. Inuwa, Weekly Trust gathered served under Yar’adua in five different capacities. Late Yar’adua was the then leader of K34, a group that worked together with other political groups to form what is today called the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Dr. Inuwa said “when the government was formed, he first invited me to serve as General Manager of the Katsina State Transport Authority (KSTA), later I was appointed as Sole Administrator of Danmusa local government, then Commissioner for Education and lastly, I served under him as Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

“So in all these capacities that I was opportune to serve under him, I found him to be a leader who led by example. We all respect him regardless of the differences in age, because he certainly respected himself. Umar was a religious person who believes in observing his religious obligations as dictates by Allah. He was also an honest and transparent leader who believes in moving the state forward and who also believes in providing for the people what they truly needed for their development,” Dr. Inuwa affirmed.

He said the late Umar was a kind of leader who believes in giving his subordinates opportunity to express  their views and prove their arguments on anything he assigns you to do, adding “I could remember presenting a memo at a council while I was the Commissioner for  Education. We debated for about two hours and 40 minutes before we could finally convince him to drop his idea for ours, which we believed was much better than his own.”

Dr. Inuwa told Weekly Trust that “I emulate hardworking attitude from the late President because he always encouraged me whenever I came up with good initiatives and ideas. Indeed, Yar’Adua was a leader but not a boss. Also as a prudent leader, late Yar’Adua doesn’t believe in spending money unnecessarily. Although he inherited empty treasury in 1999, but he was able to develop the state without borrowing any kobo from anybody or bank. And he left behind over N6billion in the treasury.”

The former SSG said the first lesson he learnt from the late President was patience, adding that the late Yar’Adua was patient to a fault.  Second, he listened to other peoples’ views;   was self-discipline, dedicated and honest in his dealings with people.

The former President, he added, had greatly helped them achieved what they achieve today. “He helped us to be respected by the community. Even though we are not in the government now, but whenever we interact with people they still believe in us, because we   conducted ourselves well, while in government. That was  what late Umaru Yar’adua really taught us.

“What impressed me most about Umaru was his high sense of responsibility and self-discipline. He always controlled his emotion to the extent that he could not even laugh in the public, Umaru could not bring himself to yawn in public. So I cherished him for self-respect and that is what I always want to emulate in him,” concluded Dr. Inuwa.

Some of the projects the late Umaru Yar’adua embarked on before he became President include the establishment of university which was named after him and Dr. Yusuf Bala Usman College of Legal and General Studies, Daura among others.

The late Yar’Adua  was the sole founder of various colleges of health services in the state that include school of health technology. Also parts of the legacies he left behind include the expansion of Katsina metropolis where he constructed a number of access roads within the state capital. He was said to have started the phase 11 of the project before he handed over the state to his predecessor, Barrister Ibrahim Shema.

He was also able to construct various access roads in   rural areas while as It was said that most of the road projects being executed by the present administration were started by him.

Yar’Adua as President

Dr. Abba Sayyadi Ruma was late President’s Minister of Agriculture. He described his late mentor as an honest, gentile, intelligent, brilliant, a visionary and a focussed President Nigeria ever had. Ruma also described Yar’adua as leader who believed in Nigeria and its unity.

Dr.  Sayyadi Ruma, who also served as Secretary to Katsina State Government during Yar’adua also said the former President was a leader who had zero tolerance for corruption.

“Late Umaru Yar’adua has done a lot to Nigeria in policy regulations through his popular slogan of respect for the rule of law. Although he was misconceived on this, but he was able to achieve a lot by planning short, medium and long terms policies and programmes for the development of the country during his reign.”

The former minister said “although he inherited huge liabilities when he comes on board, but late Yar’adua was able to move the country forward politically, economically and socially. People can now see the difference between what he did and the happenings of the day in Nigeria. Allah knows best why He took Umaru, but we really missed a leader, a true patriotic President and gentile bridge-builder that have the country at heart.”

As a President of Nigeria, Ruma said the late Yar’Adua had put in place policies and programmes that are still being implemented by the present government for the development of the country. “As you can see the difference is very much clear. Indeed we truly missed a leader and a President that Nigeria ever had.

“Ours for now is to pray for him. May Allah grant him Aljannah Al-firdaus and give his family and indeed Nigerians the fortitude to bear the loss.”