A moving tribute was paid to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Tuesday by Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, who recalled how Yar’Adua, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), twice gave him, a member of the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), money to contest in the 2007 governorship election.

Yar’Adua, who himself was running for presidency, told Oshiomhole that the former president of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) was so popular that he could even win the governorship election even in Katsina State.

When the election was eventually called in favour of PDP’s candidate, Prof. Osariemen Osunbor, Yar’Adua encouraged Oshiomhole not to despair, recalling how he too was “cheated” out of Katsina governorship in 1991.

And as Oshiomhole went to court to challenge the election results, Yar’Adua gave him all his support and promptly implemented the Appeal Court decision in 2008 when the ACN candidate was declared the lawful winner of the election.

Oshiohmole made these revelations as the chief presenter of the book, “Power, Politics and Death: A front-row account of Nigeria under the Late President Yar’Adua” written by Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, Chairman of THISDAY Editorial Board and former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Yar’Adua.

“I believe that Yar’Adua was one of our finest leaders that Nigeria ever had as a president,” Oshiomhole said.

The Edo governor also recalled how the late president over-ruled his party chieftains when they opposed his decision to allow state governors nominate members of the board of the Niger Delta Development Corporation (NDDC), which is considered “juicy”.


“Yar’Adua insisted that NDDC was for the development of the Niger Delta and governors would be allowed to nominate board members irrespective of their parties. I believe Yar’Adua was one of the few statesmen that had the rare opportunity to preside over Nigeria who can be a president and at the same time a statesman,” he said.

Oshiomhole asked the author and Nigerian writers to give inside account of what happened when Yar’Adua was sick, whether he actually transmitted power to the then Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan or not.

According to the Edo governor, “Nigerians have the right to know what happened behind the scene. It was even alleged that Yar’Adua wrote to hand over to Jonathan while some people hijacked the letter. We need to know what really transpired. So, I think Segun has done well by sharing some parts to us but as his spokesperson, he may have been censored not to disclose.”

Former Nigeria’s high commissioner to South Africa, Alhaji Shehu Malami, who was chairman of the occasion, gave an inside account of the his closeness to the Yar’Adua family, which he said dates back to when they were students at the Provisional School in Katsina.
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, also paid special tribute to Yar’Adua, describing him variously as a man of peace with the interest of the nation at heart.

The book was reviewed by syndicated columnist and celebrated journalist, Mallam Mohammed Haruna, and the launch was attended by the President, Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and Chairman/Editor-in-Chief of THISDAY, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena.

Others included former Defence Minister, General Godwin Abbe; his education and works colleagues respectively, Dr Sam Egwu and Dr Hassan Lawan, as well as former CBN Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo. Former Zenith MD, Mr Jim Ovia; former GMD of NNPC, Mr. Funsho Kupolokun; Senator Ibrahim Idah; Senator Tunde Ogbeha; Mr Dele Alake; Ambassador Joe Keshi; Dr Goke Adegoroye; Mr. Ima Niboro; Mr Adinoyi Ojo-Onukaba; Dr. Lateef Adegbite and Prof. Nuhu Yakub.


The Governor of Rivers State was represented by Senator Magnus Abbe, while that of Bauchi was represented by his Finance Commissioner. The Attorney General represented the Ogun State governor, while Prof. S. C. O. Okunna represented Anambra State Governor Peter Obi.









culled from www.thisdaylive.com