By Chimezie Godfrey
The 20th Memorial of the late General Shehu Musa Yar’adua who passed on, on this day 8th of December,1997 while in prison detention at Abakiliki was held Friday at the Musa Centre named after him in Abuja.
Newsdiaryonline reports that the event attracted national and international dignitaries such as the President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma,Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Malam Adamu Ciroma,(CFR), among others.
Mr. Dubem Onyia in his welcome address described Gen.Yaradua as a man who believed in politics without borders. He said, “Democracy,peace, and tranquility that we are enjoying today could not have been possible if not for the sacrifices made by Shehu Musa Yaradua.”
Onyia went further by quoting the word of the General as contained in the letter he sent to his son,Buhari, while in prison, where he said,”I am not in prison because I want to be president as many believed, but because I love you. I would not have achieved anything if by the time I pass on all I leave is empty houses and bank accounts which can be acquired by any idiot. I want to leave you something you can be proud of, a legacy of public service and sacrifice which will influence our county for good.”
Ex President Obasanjo in his opening remarks asked the audience, what is life? He said,”I think Shehu Musa Yaradua’s life gives the excellent answer of what life is all about . 20 years on since he passed on and here we are still reeling in his memory.I could not have had a better Deputy when I was a military Head of States of Nigeria.”
Obasanjo relieved the interesting times and difficult times which they shared together, especially the difficult task of how to handle the transition and make Nigeria better. He said that they succeeded and successfully handed over to a democratically elected government.
President while paying tribute to the late icon said,”In his activities as a soldier, politician, and his family, Gen. Yaradua put the interest of the country foremost. Someone as special as Yaradua will never be forgotten.”
Other dignitaries that paid tribute to the late General were the Representative of the Emir of Gwandu,Abubakar Aliyu Galadimawa, Major Gen. Paul Tarfa (Rtd), Mallam Adamu Ciroma,(Madakin Finka), Ambassador(Dr) Patrick Dele-Cole, among others.
Those who knew the late Gen.Yaradua described him as a political titan, a leader, and a perfect man. Some confessed their admiration for his leadership qualities and selflessness.
Some said if he were alive, he would have tried to make Nigeria be at peace, tried to bring the various ethnic groups together and to tackle corruption. Others proposed that he should be remembered as a hero. And some insisted the best way he should remembered is to live by his examples and to emulate his legacies for a better Nigeria.
