BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – Former Vice President of Nigeria and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2019 election, Atiku Abubakar, former President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu have paid tribute to late former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on the 10th year anniversary of his passing away.
Atiku in a statement by his media office in Abuja joined other Nigerians in remembering the life of a man, whose legacies continue to have great impact on them.
He noted that he (Atiku), and in deed, all Nigerians will not forget the undisputable achievements of Yar’Adua’s short-lived administration.
According to Atiku; “As each year passes by, we are constantly reminded of his outstanding leadership skills and decision making acumen.
“Yar’Adua was a man that was never shy of reaching out to people; irrespective of political party affiliations whenever it came down to finding solutions to addressing issues that bedeviled us as a nation.
“To him, it was country first before political, religious and ethnic considerations,” Atiku said.
Similarly, immediate past President of the Senate, Dr Saraki in his twitter handle described the Late Yar’Adua as a leader that was concerned about every part of Nigeria and Nigerians.
Saraki said that Yar’Adua believed passionately about the oneness of Nigeria and displayed it for all to see and appreciate.
According to Saraki; “We witnessed the vigour and passion he displayed in bringing to a halt, the hostilities in the Niger Delta region.”
In his own tribute, former Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, writing on his Facebook page, Tuesday morning, in a short tribute entitled; “Yar’Adua: Remembering a Leader, True Democrat, and Bridge Builder”, described the Katsina-born former President as a man of peace and justice.
Ekweremadu recalled that it was Yar’Adua, who approved the designation of the Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu, as an international airport after many decades of denying the South East a direct access to the world, created the Ministry of Niger Delta, and restored peace in the region through the amnesty deal with militants.
Ekweremadu revealed that he had nominated Yar’Adua for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize for choosing dialogue and suasion instead of force in resolving the Niger Delta challenge, although he did not eventually win the prize.
In the words of Ekweremadu; “We lost a leader in the late President Yar’Adua 10 years ago. When in July 2007 I led a delegation of South East Senators to discuss challenges facing the region with him, he was surprised that the South East had no direct access to the world and he graciously broke the jinx by designating the Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu an international airport.
“He wrote his name in gold by creating the Ministry of Niger Delta in 2008 and pulled the amnesty deal in 2009 to restore peace, security, economic stability, and promote development in the region. I actually nominated him for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize. He didn’t win, but the world noted that he was a man of peace and justice.
“May God continue to have mercy on his soul and continue to grant his fine, gentle soul a peaceful repose. Amen.
“Continue to rest in peace, Sir”.
